n^e storage 




Glass. 
Book 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



HISTORY OF MADISON, 



THE CAPITAL OF WISCONSIN 



INCLUDING 



THE FOUR LAKE COUNTRY 

To July, 1874, 



WITH AN 



APPENDIX 

OF NOTES ON DANE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNS. 



DANIEL si:^DURRIE, 

Librarian of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 



-J 



-'.•:;./>.UiL-- 
MADISON, WIS. : ' ;/ 

1874. 



^<i^ 

;\\^^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-four, 

By Daniel S. Durrie, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D, C. 



ATWOOD & CULVER. 

STERKOTYPERS AND PRINTERS. 

MADISON, WIS. 



PREFACE 



The author of this volume has long beeu impressed with the fact, that 
much information relative to the early and later history of Madison and 
adjacent country, had not been written; and that some one should under- 
take the task of compiling the necessary materials for such a work, 
availing himself of the opportunity now afforded to consult those of 
our citizens who established themselves here as pioneers and early set- 
tlers, before circumstances should render it impossible to do so. Manj^ of 
these have passed away ; others have removed to new localities, and the 
few that now remain, w^ill, in the ordinary course of events, be with us 
but a short period. 

It is true, that a portion of our history has been written. To Maj. H 
A. Tenney we are indebted for many interesting facts collected in past 
time, which were published in a small pamphlet in 1851, and subse- 
quently re-printed. In 1857, Hon. L. C. Draper prepared a similar 
work, much enlarged; but these pamphlets, while they accomplished 
the object of their publication, in drawing public attention to the beauty 
and desirability of Madison as a place of settlement, did not go into 
the minutiae of our early history, and necessarily were written up only 
to the date of publication, and are now out of print. The changes 
and improvements that have since taken place, have been so marked 
.as to entitle Madison to a history more complete and brought down 
to the present time, and the present work is designed to supply such 
a deficiency. 

It is not necessary to offer any apology for local history — the main 
object of which is to furnish the first elements of general history, to 
record facts rather than deductions from facts. In these municipali- 
ties — these separate incorporations — are to be found many of the 
first moving causes which tend to operate on and revolutionize public 



4 PEE FACE. 

opinion. Many facts, minute in themselves, are in this view very im- 
portant. The details, which is the appropriate province of the local 
historian to spread before the public, are not so much history itself, 
as materials for history, leaving to the general historian, who has 
before him all these details, to exhibit the connection of the several 
parts, and their dependence one upon another. 

The present volume has been prepared from information derived 
from the Madison newspaper files in the library of the Historical So- 
ciety — from pioneers — from the village, town and city records, and 
every reliable authority accessible; and, it is believed, that what is- 
herein stated is in all respects true; or, if there are errors, they will 
not be found important. 

The writer is greatly indebted to many of the early settlers for the 
interest they have taken in the publication of this volume, and for 
their personal reminiscences of early times; among these may be 
named Mrs. Roseline Peck, of Baraboo, Wis., the first settler of 
that place as well as Madison; R. L. Ream, Esq., of Washington*- 
D. C; Gen. S. Mills, of Madison; Hon. M. M. Strong, of Mineral 
Point, Wis.; J. T. Clark, Esq., of Topeka, Kansas; Dr. C. B. Chapman,. 
Maj. H. A. Tenney, and R. W. Lansing, Esq., of Madison. Thanks are, 
also due to Lyman C. Draper, LL. D., Secretary of the State Historical 
Society, for valuable assistance. Among this number also, who took a 
deep interest in the enterprise, was the Hon. John Catlin, one ot our 
most honored pioneers. This gentleman, while laboring under protracted- 
illness, furnished much information of his early residence at Madison. 
While this work was passing through the press, and on the 4th of 
August, 1874, he departed this life at his residence at Elizabeth, N. J.,, 
in the 71st year of his age, highly respected by every one. 

The illustrated edition of this work has been prepared by Mr. N. 
P. Jones, Photographer, Madison, whose reputation in his department 
is unrivalled. 

Madison, Wis., October 1, 1874. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

ABOBiaiNAL AND Frekch HisT.mY - A>-tiquities - Abkivai, of- 

^ EbeLzkk BB..nAM-THE B..B >1o™.s-Yis:t o. M.^^ 

DOTT, BAiBB A«D Mabtin, 1828 - The Fouk lakes -I^DIA^ 

^Lb^bs at B..E MO..BS-THE BBAOK Ha.k Wab-Wake- 

.XELB-S ACOOXIKT O. FO^B LAKE CO™TBT - CaPT. LoWS YlSIT - 

Eaklt Tradees: Abmel, Rowan, Kasdabl, St. Cyb-Col. wm. 

B SLAWHTEB-SmVEVS BY J. V. S.YBAM -TOPOOBAPHICAX,. 

DE8CBIPTI0N OE Mabison-Hok. John Catbin's E eminiscekce^- 

CHAPTER II. 

LOCATION OE SE.AT OP GOVBB.ME.T - TEBBITOS.AB OUOANIZATIOK - 

Hon M. M. Stbong's Eably Subveys - Visit of A. F. Pbatt,- 
1837-ABBivAB OP Eben Peck and Family - Feathebston- 
HA^H-s VISIT, 1837-Abbivab op a. a. Bibb anb Pabty-W. 

WOOLCOCK'S account -DESCBIPTION OE Ol.B C.APITOB- MaBISON 
HOTEB-N.AMES OE WOBKMEN - S. MlI.I.S' AKBIYAB - ACCOUNT 

OE EABLY Buildinos-Mbs. Roseline Peck's Recollections^ 

CHAPTER III. 

Visit of Gen W. K. Smith, 18«7 - First Lecislatbbe - " WiscokbW 
^" L;!beb .. anb otheb newspapers _ DANE county Co^iission- 

EBS-POLL LIST OF 1839 -"Mabison Express "-JubgeJ^G. 

^APP'^^AccouNT, 1838- JULY 4 Celebration -SCHOOLS -MEB 

• f;ANTS-P.E.CH;.BCHOBOANI.EB-R.L.REAM.sKEMINISCENCES^, 

1838-9. 



€> TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER ly. 

Bane County Affaiks, 1840 — Pkotestant Episcopal Church His- 

TORY CONTINUED — NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY, 1840 — CONGREGA- 
TIONAL Church Organization — Settlers, 1840— Kev. Dr. A. 
Brunson's First Visit — Improvements, 1841 — Dane County 
Residents, 1841 — Schools — Killing of Hon. C. C. Arndt — 
^S'ewspapers, 1842-5 — Visit op J. A. Brown and Dr. Goodhue — 
Census, 1843 — Kentucky House — Madison, 1843 — Improve- 
■ ivrENTS: Schools, 1844-5 — Madison Lodge of Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons — Narratives of R. W. Lansing and H. A. Ten- 
^^Y- 125-165 

CHAPTER Y. 

Tillage and Town Elections 1846-49 — Water Power - Celebra- 
TiON, July 4, 1846 — Public Cemetery — Dr. C. B. Chapman's and 
J. T. Clark's Reminiscences — Hope Lodge I. O. O. F. — Knapp's 
Account of Capitol Grounds — L.J. Far well's Arrival — First 
Bell in Madison— Organization op Baptist Church 1847 — 
Trial of Gross for Murder— Growth op Village, 1848 — 
State Historical Society, 1849— State University. 166-203 

CHAPTER VI. 

Hy^r's Reminiscences of Covalle, Pinneo, Ubeldeen, Tom Jackson, 
Judges Frazer and Irvin — Knapp's Notice of Irvin — A Leap op 
Western History — University Property and Improvements — 
Elections, 1850-3 — Gov. Farwell's Improvements — Schools, 
1850-3 — Newspapers — Madison Mutual Insurance Company — 
Fourth op July — Presbyterian Church Organization and 
History — Capitol House — Public Improvements, 1852-4 — Bap- 
tist Church Erected — R. Catholic Church — Madison Institute 
— Opening op Railroad to Milwaukee — Bruen's Block — Lake 
Side Water Cure — Statistics. 204-243 

CHAPTER VII. 

Horace Greeley's Visit 1855. — Elections 1855-'61 — Gas Light 
AND Coke Co. — Grace Church — Schools, 1855-6 — Public and 
Private Improvements — Congregational Church— National 
Anniversaries, 1855-61 — Madison Incorporated as a City, 
1855 —Business Firms — Peat Beds — City Hall — University 
Buildings — Hospital for Insane Commenced, and New State 
Capitol Projected — Organization op Military Companies — 
Notice of Hon. T. W. Sutherland — Op Col. James Mor- 
rison—Rebellion History, 1861. 244-284 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 7 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Rebellion History, continued — Death op Gov. Harvey — Elec" 
TiONS, 1862-69 — Public Schools, 1862-69— Old Capitol Demol- 
ished, AND South Wing Built — State Historical Society His- 
tory — Death of Nathaniel Ames — Steam Navigation — Busi- 
ness Statistics, 1865-68 — History of Governor's Guard — Ar- 
tesian Well — National Anniversaries, 1867-70 — U. States- 
Court House — Public and Private Improvements. 285-S2S 

CHAPTER IX. 

Efforts to Remove the State Capital — Notice of Col. Bird — 
History of Grace Church, continued — Park Hotel Com- 
pany — University Ward School House — "State Journal'^ 
Reminiscences — Public Improvements, 1870-4 — Female Co3> 
LEGE — Schools — National Anniversary — Railroad Entek- 
prises — The Messersmith House — Yacht and Boat Clubs — 
Notice of John Stoner — Presbyterian Church Improte- 
iiENTS — Methodist Episcopal Church — Artesian Well — 
High School Building — Elections, 1870-4 — Grace Church: 
Chimes — Congregational CnuiiCH Building — Dane Countt 
Cave — Conclusion. 327-S81 

APPENDIX. 

Madison City Officers. 383-S9(^' 

Danb County and Towns. . 391^1S- 



MADISON 



AND THE 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 



CHAPTER I. 



Aboriginal and French History — Antiquities — Arrival of 
Ebenezer Brigham — The Blue Mounds — Visit of Messrs. 
Doty, Baird and Martin, 1828 — The Four Lakes — Indian 
Troubles at Blue Mounds — The Black Hawk War — Wake- 
field's Account of Four Lake Country — Capt. Low's Yisit — 
Early Traders: Armel, Rowan, Rasdall, St. Cyr — Col. Wm. 
B. Slaughter — Surveys by J. V. Suydam — Topographical 
Description of Madison — Hon. John Catlin's Reminiscences. 

It would be interesting, if not profitable, to know when and 
through whom the section of country now occupied by the 
city of Madison and adjoining the Four Lakes, was first made 
known to Europeans; but it is one of those questions much 
easier asked than answered. 

Wisconsin, it is well known, was visited at an early date by 
the Jesuit Fathers, and a mission established at the Rapids de 
Pere, on the Fox river, near Green Bay, in 1669. In June, 
1673, the Upper Mississippi river was discovered by Father 
Marquette and his companion Joliet, who passed up the Fox 
and down the Wisconsin rivers to the Mississippi. This was 
the great thoroughfare through Wisconsin for a long period 
but we do not find any record of explorations to the north or 



10 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

south of those streams, until Capt. Joi^A. Cakver passed down 
the Wisconsin to the " Great Town of the Saukies, " Prairie 
du Sac, in October, 1766, and while at that place made an ex- 
cursion to what he calls "some mountains that lie about fifteen 
miles to the southward, and abound in lead ore." These moun- 
tains are now known as the " Blue Mounds." 

There is every reason to believe that the "Four Lake Coun- 
try" was not unknown to the French traders soon after a trad- 
ing post was established at Green Bay; and it is a well estab- 
lished fact that, early as 1655, there were Frenchmen engaged 
in trade at that point; and, wherever there is a reasonable 
prospect of gain, there will be found the hardy adventurer, 
however difficult the path or dangerous the road. 

These traders and their employes, while collecting peltries, 
visited every available location, and it is not a reasonable sup- 
position that this rich section of country, abounding with 
lakes the favorite abode of fur-bearing animals, should have 
been overlooked or unknown. Again, it was the interest of 
these persons to keep the knowledge they had acquired to 
themselves for their own particular benefit; and, in connection 
with this subject, Capt. Carver in his narrative* says: "I can- 
not help remarking that all the maps of these parts I have 
ever seen are very erroneous — the rivers, in general, running 
in diflPerent directions from what they really do, etc. Whether 
this is done by the French geographers (for all English maps 
are copied from theirs) through design, or for a want of a just 
knowledge of the country, I cannot say." Some of these maps 
would indicate that the country south of the Wisconsin was 
generally swampy, and apparently of little value. 

"These singular men, the trappers," says Hon. J. Y. Smith, 
" were shrewdly silent in regard to their wanderings and ex- 
plorations, especially when they extended to beautiful and fer- 
tile regions. It was part of their policy to discourage immi- 
gration of those who were devoted to industrial pursuits, as 
they anticipated therefrom competition and the general decline 

* " Travels in the Interior Parts of North America in 1766, '67 and '68, 
by Capt. J. Carver. London. 1778. 8vo." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 11 

of tlieir trade which must inevitably follow upon the settle- 
ment of the country." 

The Four Lake Country, we also know, was the favored 
locality of that mysterious race who long since inhabited this 
state, and who have left behind those remarkable mounds and 
earth-works, fortifications and embankments which are found 
in the most beautiful locations in .this vicinity. 

I. A. Lapham, LL.D., in his valuable work on the Antiquities 
of Wisconsin, refers to some of these mounds, and as they are 
fast disappearing, and some of them no longer in existence, his 
account wdll prove interesting: 

"In the vicinity of the Four Lakes, where Madison, the 
capital of the state is situated, the mound-builders have left 
unusually numerous traces of their former occupancy and in- 
dustry. These lakes are united by a stream called the Catfish, 
now known as Yahara, through which the waters are con- 
veyed to the Rock river. The mounds, situated six and twelve 
miles west of the Four Lakes, were among the first of the ani- 
mal-shaped mounds of which an account was published in 
Silliman's Amer. Jour., Vol. XXXIV, etc. A figure on the 
Third Lake (Monona), near the residence of Ex-Gov. Fairchild, 
was fortunately rescued from oblivion by Mr. F. HuDSOiir, in 
1842. Its length was 318 feet, and shape of a lizard. In grad- 
ing Wisconsin avenue and Wilson street it had to be removed. 
On the north side of Lake Wingra, on the road to Monroe, 
there is an irregular row of mounds, comprising two quadru- 
peds, one bird, and one mound with lateral projections, five 
oblong and twenty-seven circular tumuli." 

Accurate drawings and surveys of these and other mounds 
in this vicinity are given in Dr. Lapham's valuable work. 

The Sac and Fox nations of Indians were for a long period 
the occupants of the Fox river valley countr}^ and of the Wis- 
consin, before the permanent settlement was made. They were 
a warlike race of old, as we know that nearly two hundred 
years since, the French who had rarely become involved with 
the aborigines, were obliged by force of arms to wrest from 
them the privilege of transit between Green Bay and the Mis- 



12 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

sissippi. The lakes were tlieir favorite resort owing undoubt- 
edly to the abundance of fish and water fowl ; the shallow bays 
were literally covered spring and autumn with myriads of 
ducks. The larger game of deer were numerous, and the marshes 
afforded abundance of peltry. 

The ground upon which Madison is built, was in common 
with most of the region included between the Mississippi and 
the Wisconsin and Rock rivers, purchased from the nations in 
1825, at which time they relinquished all claim to lands east of 
the Mississippi. These Indians were reputed among the early 
settlers to be peculiarly faithless and savage. They seemed to 
have repented the surrender of their old hunting grounds, and 
in 1831 we find them again on the east side of the river, greatly 
annoying the settlers and destroying much property. They 
were speedily driven back, and entered into a new treaty with 
the United States, the terms of which were much the same as 
those of the treaty of 1825. The next year they again returned 
to the east side of the river, and shortly after took place what 
is usually known as the ''Winnebago Outbreak," succeeded 
by the Black Hawk War ; after which the Indians were 
again and permanently removed to the west, and tranquility 
ensued. 

The first pioneer settler within the present county of Dane, 
was Colonel EBEiyTEZER Brigham. This gentleman was so 
identified with our history, that it is necessary to give a me- 
moir of his life and the events connected therewith. No one 
ever lived in this section that was better known or more highly 
appreciated than Col. Brigham. He died at Madison, Septem- 
ber 11, 1861, in the T2d year of his age. 

Ebekezer Brigham was born at Shrewsbury, Worcester 
county, Mass., April 28, 1789. In 1818 he came to Olean Point 
in the State of New York. The Alleghany river was then the 
only channel known through western New York, and that was 
only navigated by canoes, rafts or skiff's. He came through in 
a canoe, and at Pittsburgh took a flat boat down the Ohio 
river. The villages on the river were all small. During the 
journey down he saw but one steamboat. On arriving at 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. IS 

Sliawneetowii, he landed and walked tlirougli to St. Louis. 
There was nothing at that place but a small French settlement 
— not more than three or four brick houses in the town. In 
1822 he first set foot upon Wisconsin soil, but not to remain. 
At Galena he found Col. James Johxson-, a brother of Col. 
Richard M. Johnso^^, who was just opening the mines, and 
subsequently he spent a short time at Springfield. In 1827 he 
embarked for Wisconsin with an ox team. At that time there 
was a large emigration to the lead mines, in the southwestern 
part of the state, as the ore was abundant and the price remunera- 
tive. He remained a while near Platteville and was engaged in 
mining, and with a small party pitched his tent (so to speak) 
on what is now the Block House branch of the Platte river. 
From this point the party retreated in haste to Galena, owing 
to the commencement of hostilities by the Indians. In the 
spring of 1828 he removed to Blue Mounds, the most advanced 
outpost in the mines. The only source of food supply was 
from Galena. Soon after he had raised his cabin he took a trip 
with two companions to Fort Winnebago to ascertain whether 
food could not be more easily obtained at that point. The route 
taken, was north of Fourth Lake, probably on or near the line 
of the old military road afterwards laid out. They obtained a 
supply of salt pork, hard bread, powder and some other things, 
of a sutler, not loading heavily, and on the return struck south, 
striking the old trail that formerly ran between the Third and 
Fourth Lakes, following it up to the hill where the capitol now 
stands, Avhere they encamped over night. Intercourse with 
the Indians had made known to them the existence of the lake 
region before they started. From the enchanting view of the 
spot, he predicted that a village would be built there, and prob- 
ably the future capital of the Territory. The isolated condition 
where he settled will be apparent from the statement of a few 
facts. The nearest settler was at what is now Dodgeville. Min- 
eral Point and other mining places where villages have since 
grown up, had not then been discovered. On the southeast the 
nearest house was on the OTlaine river, twelve miles west of 
Chicago. On the east, Solomo:n- Juj^eau was his nearest neigh- 



14: HISTORY OF MADISOX AND THE 

bor at the moutli of Milwaukee river, and on the northeast, 
Green Bay was the nearest settlement. 

Shortly after locating at the Mounds, Mr. Brigham, in corn- 
pan}^ with Col. Wm. S. IlAMiLTOi^ and M. Gratiot and some 
others, visited Green Bay in order to settle on certain bounda- 
ries between the whites and the Indians. The line was fixed 
upon, and the Indians blazed the trees along this line, notify- 
fying the whites not to pass it^ a prohibition about as effectual 
as the whistling of the wind. 

For several years after his coming, the savages were the sole 
lords of the soil ; a large Indian village stood near the mouth 
of Token Creek; another stood on the ridge between Second 
and Third Lakes, and their wigwams were scattered all along 
the streams. When the capital was located here, he was the 
nearest settler to it, though twenty-five miles distant. 

Soon after his settlement, he was honored with the appoint- 
ment of magistrate from Governor Lewis Cass. He held this 
commission four years, and all the duty he performed during 
that time was to marry one couple. He often related an anec- 
dote of being called upon to go some thirty miles to marry a 
couple, but on arriving within a short distance of the place, 
word had been left there that the fair lady had changed her 
mind, and he must not come any farther. Mr. Brigham, how- 
ever, went on and introduced another friend, who succeeded in 
making a contract, and the next spring he was called upon to 
ratify it, and this was the only ofiicial act of a four years term 
of justice of the peace. 

The principal object of his location at this point, as before 
stated, was mining for lead, and at the same time cultivating 
the soil. One of the leads on his land was " proved " before 
his death to the depth of seventy-five to one hundred feet when 
the workmen were prevented by water from going deeper. Up- 
wards of four million pounds were taken from this lead with 
no other machinery than the common windlass, rope and tub. 
This lead was hauled to Green Bay, Chicago and Galena. On 
his first trip to Chicago, there was not a house or wagon track 
between that place and Blue Mounds. He was fifteen days in 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 15 

reaching liis destination, fording with his oxen and load of 
lead the Rock and Fox rivers and the smaller streams on the 
route. In this expedition he was accompanied by a favorite 
dog, for which he was offered in Chicago a village lot, which 
was situated where now is the most valuable property in that 
city. In those days the whole site of the town could have 
been purchased for a few hundred dollars. 

Col. Brigham, at the organization of the territorial govern- 
ment, was elected a member of the council, and was re-elected, 
serving nine terms, from 1836 to 1841. When the state 
government was organized, 1848, he was elected a member of 
assembly. He died at the residence of his niece, Mrs. H. G. 
Bliss, at Madison, September 14, 1861, aged seventy-two 
years. 

A short description of the Four Lakes, in the vicinity of 
Madison, and the Blue Mounds, may prove of service, taken 
from I. A. Lapham's " History of Wisconsin: " 

There are in all, twelve lakes in Dane county — but the 
principal, and those most attractive, are the Four Lakes, lying 
in the valley of the Cat Fish or Yahara, and nearly in a direct 
line from northwest to southeast. 

Kegon^sa, or First Lake. — This lake is the lowest of the 
four. Its longest diameter is three and one-eighth miles by 
two miles in its shortest; its circumference is nine and a half 
miles, and it covers five square miles. It is situated nine miles 
above Dunkirk Falls, near the southern line of the county, and 
lies in the towns of Dunn and Pleasant Springs. 

Waubesa, or Second Lake. — This body of water lies three 
and a half miles above Kegonsa. Its length is three and 
a half miles, and its width about two; and with it, has an 
average depth of about twelve feet. The larger part is in the 
town of Dunn, and the remainder in Blooming-Grove. 

Mois'OJ^-A, OR Third Lake, is next above, at a distance of 
seven-eighths of a mile. It is about six and a half miles long, 
by two broad, occupying an area of six square miles. Madison, 
the County Seat and Capital of the State, is located on the strip 
of land about one mile across, between this and Lake Mendota. 



16 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The larger part is in the town of Blooming-Grove and the 
remainder in Madison. 

Mej^tdota, oe Fourth Lake. — This is the uppermost and by 
far the largest of the Four Lakes. It has a periphery of nine- 
teen and one-fourth miles, and covers an area of fifteen and 
sixty-five one hundreths square miles. Its diameter is six miles 
by nine. The larger part is in the town Madison and the 
remainder in Westport. 

Each lake is surrounded by a broad valley, which, with the 
bottom lands bordering upon the numerous small streams, 
flowing into them, on all sides, forms a portion of agricultural 
country of unsurpassed fertility. 

The water of all these lakes, coming from springs, is cold 
and clear to a remarkable degree. For the most part, their 
shores are made of a fine gravel shingle ; and their bottoms, 
which are visible at a great depth, are composed of white sand, 
interspersed with granite boulders. Their banks, with few 
exceptions, are bold. A jaunt upon them affords almost every 
variety of scenery — bold escarpments and overhanging cliffs, 
elevated peaks, and gently-sloping shores, with occasional 
strips of meadow land between, affording magnificent views of 
the distant prairies and openings. 

The Blue Moukds are two conical hills, about one mile 
apart, one in Iowa, and one, the largest, in Dane county, 
twenty-five miles Avest of Madison, and twelve miles south of 
the Wisconsin river. 

On the western line of Dane county, the highest peak rises 
to an altitude of 1,931 feet above the sea, and 1,072.5 above 
the lakes at Madison. Going west from the city, the visitant 
passes successively across the out-crop of every principal 
geological deposite in the state. He ascends from the upper 
layers of the lower or Potsdam sandstone, across the lower 
magnesian, the upper or ferruginous sandstone, the blue fossili- 
ferous limestone, the upper magnesian or lead-bearing rock, 
and ends upon the crest on a layer of some four hundred feet 
thickness of hornstone — a sharp, siliceous deposit filled with 
chest nodules, flint and fossilizations. The mounds of all this 



FOUB LAKE COUNTBY OF WIS CONS IN. 17 

region owe tlieir origin to erosion, and not elevation. They 
are the outliers of an ancient world — land-marks of ages too 
remote to be computed by years — boundaries which remain to 
prove the existence of a former surface over all southern Wis- 
consin, of which in the lapse of epochs more than six hundred 
feet have been dissolved and carried away by the action of the 
elements. The Blue Mounds being the highest, dominate all 
others. Sharp cut valleys and ravines radiate from their hoary 
sides in nearly every direction. Springs break out along the 
margins of the successive layers, and streams run to the four 
points of the compass. It is the source and parent of river 
and rivulet, seamed by many a scar, but beautiful and grand 
from every point of observation. 

The elevation of the mounds is such, that they can be seen 
fifteen to twenty miles distant. The Indian name is Mu-cha- 
wa-ku-nin, or the Smoky Mountains, applied to them, it is 
said, on account of their summits being usually enveloped in a 
blue haze. The following is a geological section of the 
eastern mound, as reported by Dr. Locke: 

Feet. 

Corniferous rock forming the peak of the mound, . - - 410 

Geodiferous Lime rock or lead bearing rock, . - - 169 

Saccharoid Sandstone, - - - - - - 40 

Alternations of Sandstone and Limestone, _ . - 188 

Sandstone, .-------3 

Lower Limestone at the level of the Wisconsin, - - - 190 

Total, - - - - - - - i>ooQ 

— Lapham^s History of Wisconsin. 

In the month of May, 1829, Hon. James Duane Doty, * 
Judge of the U. S. Court, Hei^ry S. Baird and Morga]^- L. 
Martiit Esqrs, attorneys of Green Bay, performed a journey to 
Prairie du Chien on horseback. These gentlemen had in 1825, 
'26, '27 and '28 taken the same trip by water, by the way of the 
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, which was then the usual and only 

* For an interesting paper on the "Life and Public Services of Gov. 
Doty," by ,Gen. A. G. Ellis, see Collections State Historical Society of 
Wisconsin, Vol. 5, p. 369-377. 



18 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

mode of communication between the two places. At the time 
above alluded, to they were anxious to obtain a knowledge of 
the country outside of this route, and of which no one had 
previously written. They were accompanied by a Menomonee 
Indian as guide who led or rode a pack horse. Their route was 
not a direct one, as the Indian was not well acquainted with 
the country west of Lake Winnebago, following the Indian 
trails as far as practicable, they traveled on the east side of that 
Lake to Fond du Lac, thence by way of Green Lake to the Four 
Lakes, crossing the outlet between the Second and Third Lakes, 
the site of Madison, the Blue Mounds, Dodgeville, and crossed 
the Wisconsin about six miles above its confluence with the 
Mississippi. They were about seven days in making the jour- 
ney, and saw no white people until they reached Blue Mounds. 
This was the first party of whites that had attempted and accom- 
plished the land journey from Green Bay to the Mississippi. 

Attracted doubtless by the beauty of the location, as well as 
other considerations, Judge Doty made another excursion to 
this place in 1832, after the termination of the Black Hawk 
war. It was very evident that with his usual foresight he was 
impressed as was Col. Brigaam with its desirability for a future 
town. 

The year 1832 was memorable for the war of the Sacs and 
Foxes under Black Hawk against the whites, and as Blue 
Mounds and the Four Lake Country were intimately connected 
with the movements of the army and the flight of the Indians, 
it will be necessary to give a statement of the events occurring 
at that time as far as these localities were concerned. 

In the spring of that year (1832) the Winnebagoes were pro- 
fessedly friendly, but they could not be depended on in case of 
reverses from the Sacs and Foxes. To guard against surprise, 
Col. Beigham and the settlers in the vicinity of the Blue 
Mounds, built a block house in a commanding position on the 
prairie near the mounds, and about a mile and a half from the 
Colonel's residence. The buildings were commenced May 10, and 
completed about the 24:th, and consisted of two block houses 
each about twenty feet square and a log building in the centre 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 19 

about tliirty feet by twenty feet large for a store bouse and bar- 
rack. The whole was enclosed by a picket fence of about one 
hundred and fifty feet on each of the four sides — the pickets 
were of stout oak about sixteen feet high, planted about three 
feet in the ground. James Aubrey had the first command of 
the men assembled at the fort; E. Beouchard, 1st Lieutenant, 
and after Aubrey's death, succeeded to the command until 
June 14 when he resigned and was succeeded by Capt. JoHi^ 
Shermai^. On the 6th of June, Aubrey was killed as will pres- 
ently be noticed; at this time there were in the fort, the fam- 
ilies of all the settlers in the neighborhood, as no one knew how 
long they would be free from attack. 

In the latter part of May, Col. H. Dodge assembled a com- 
pany of fifty mounted volunteers commanded by Jas. H. Ge^st- 
TRY and John" H. Roujttree and proceeded with them to the 
head of the Four Lakes where, on the 25th of the month, he 
held a talk with the Winnebagoes, desiring to know their in- 
tentions as to the Sacs, whether or not they would aid, counsel 
or harbor them in their country (that nation then had nominal 
possession of the Four Lake region); if the}^ would, it would 
be considered as a declaration of war on their part; informing 
them that the Sacs had lied to them and given them bad coun- 
sel, and that if the}^ were unfaithful to the treaties, they must 
expect to share the fate of the Sacs. To all which the Winne- 
bagoes made fair promises and agreed to remain at peace. 

About the first of June, Capt. Shermax who commanded at 
Mound Fort, fearing an attack from the Indians, sent word of 
his apprehensions to Col. Dodge, who immediately collected 
from the several posts, of which there were twelve or more in 
the mining districts, some two hundred mounted men. They 
proceeded to Mound Fort on the 3d of June, on which day the 
two Misses Hall, who had been captured by the Sacs at the 
massacre on Fox river, were delivered up by the Winnebagoes 
for the purpose of obtaining the reward which had been off'ered 
by Gen. Atkinson" for their recovery. 

On the 6th of June, James Aubrey, an inmate of Col. Brig- 
ham's family, was killed by the Sacs while getting water at 



20 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

tlie spring near the dwelling-liouse ; this was abont a mile and 
a half north of the fort, but in sight of it. It has since been 
ascertained that the Sacs had been piloted to this place by cer- 
tain Winnebagoes. Suspicion ever attached to this treacher- 
ous people. 

On the 20tli of June, some Indians were discovered in the 
vicinity of Mound Fort, and Lieut. Wm. Fokce and a person of 
the name of Greei^, whose family was in the fort, mounted 
their horses and rode out to reconnoitre. In a short time they 
fell into an ambush of the Sacs, about two miles in front, and 
immediately in view of the fort. The unfortunate men were 
plainly seen endeavoring to escape to the fort, but they were 
soon surrounded and killed by the savages, who mutilated 
the bodies in a most horrible manner. Lieut. Force had a 
heavy gold watch by which the hours of standing guard were 
regulated; at the time he was killed it was in his pocket, and 
was taken — his body being chopped in pieces and scattered 
about the prairie. Shortly after, an Indian trader named 
Wallis Rowak, who will be noticed hereafter, was out on the 
trail, picked up five or six Indian saddles, the horses having 
given out in the retreat. On coming up to the bodj^ of this 
savage, he found the prairie fire had passed over it, consuming 
his pack and clothing. The watch of Force was found in the 
ashes^and identified by Mr. Brigham a few days after. Rowan" 
kept the watch over ten years before finally parting with it. 

In the march of the command under Henry and Dodge in 
pursuit of the Indians, the detachment crossed the Crawfish 
river near Aztalan, and followed the trail until the high 
grounds between the Third and Fourth Lakes, the capitol 
grounds and the site of Madison, were reached, and struck the 
north end of Third Lake. In the timber between Gen. Simeon 
Mills' country residence and the Catfish bridge, then the 
ford, they overtook the rear guard of the flying foe, where an 
Indian was wounded, who crept away and hid himself in the 
thick willows, where he died. 

A scouting party of fourteen men, one of whom was Abel 
Rasdall, who will hereafter be noticed^ was sent forward by 



FOUE LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 21 

Col. Dodge, and preceded the main bod}^ about two miles, wlio 
crossed tlie Catfish just below where the bridge leading out of 
Williamson street, Madison, now stands. When they arrived 
at the point where Parker's planing mill stood, since occupied 
by BiLLiKGS & Carman as a plow factory, an Indian was seen 
coming up from the water's edge, near the present watering 
place below the Lake, now Meredith, House, who seated himself 
upon the bank, apparently indifferent to his fate. In a moment 
after, his body was pierced with bullets, one of which passed in 
at the temple and out of the back part of his head. On ex- 
amination, it was found that he was sitting upon a newly made 
grave, probably that of his wife who had perhaps died of fa- 
tigue, hunger and exhaustion, and her disconsolate companion 
had resolved to await the advancing foe and die there also. 

The trail was followed around the southern end of Fourth 
Lake, passing a little north of the Capitol Park and along the 
lake near the State University, where it appeared that an ad- 
mirable position for a battle-field, with natural defenses and 
places of ambush, had been chosen by the enemy; and here 
they had apparently lain the previous night. This place was 
near Col. W. B. Slaughter's farm, afterwards laid out as the 
City of the Four Lakes, about three quarters of a mile north of 
the present village of Pheasant Branch. 

Of the further movements of the army, it is only necessary 
to say, that the pursuit continued July 21, with occasional 
glimpses of straggling Indians, some of whom were killed, 
until about five o'clock in the afternoon, when the Wisconsin 
river bluff was reached, and a battle took place, when about 
sixty were killed, and a great number of bodies were afterwards 
found on the northern side of the Wisconsin, on the route to 
Bad-Axe. The loss on the part of the whites, was one killed, 
and eight wounded. On the 2d of August the battle at the 
mouth of the Bad-Axe river took place, which resulted in the 
total destruction of a very large portion of Black Hawk's fol- 
lowers — men, women and children — and the capture and dis- 
persion of the remainder. Black Hawk soon after surrendered 
himself to the Chiefs Cha-e-tar and OisE-eyed Decorra, who 



22 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

brouglit liim and tlie Prophet afterwards to Prairie du Chien, 
and delivered them to Gen. Street, agent of the Winnebagoes, 
on the 27th of August, thus terminating the war much to the 
satisfaction of everyone. 

In the month of September of this year. Col. Chas. Whit- 
tlesey, now of Cleveland, Ohio, made a journey from Green 
Bay to Fort Winnebago, and thence to Galena, an account of 
which can be found in Vol. I, Collections of State Histori- 
cal Society of Wisconsin. He passed around the northern 
shores of Fourth Lake to Blue Mounds, and thence to his 
destination. 

A correspondent of the "Madison Democrat" writes from 
Cadiz, Wis., July 1, 1871, and gives some reminiscences of his 
experiences in the United States army in 1832-3 in Illinois and 
Wisconsin, after the conclusion of the Black Hawk war, from 
which the following extracts are made: "His company, after 
the treaty with the Sacs and Foxes at Rock Island, September 
25, 1832, received orders to go into winter quarters at Danville, 
111., where it remained until April 13, 1833. From that place 
it proceeded to Dodgeville, where the writer found a cluster of 
eight or ten log cabins, and where he met Col. Henry Dodge. 
After remaining there a week the company started for Fort 
Winnebago via Blue Mounds. Here he found a block-house, 
but the people had all left on account of the Indians, who had 
killed some of the settlers. From here he went to the north- 
west side of Fourth Lake, and encamped for a few days. 
Near the encampment lived a solitary Frenchman in a log 
cabin. He, with Col. Brigham, was the population of Dane 
county at that time. Between the lake and Bellfountain, a 
name we gave the place, they spent sometime resting them- 
selves and horses ; they considered the country iitterhj ivorthless^ 
and thought it would never be settled, except that there might 
be a settlement sometime at Blue Mounds, and one at Platte 
Mounds, and perhaps a small settlement at the Four Lakes. 
The company resumed its march, and, on the ground now oc- 
cupied by Portage City, they found the whole Winnebago tribe 
of Indians encamped. The company, after serving out the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 23 

term of enlistment, returned to Dodgeville, and were discharged 
Jnly 23, 1833." 

In tlie year 1834, J. A. Wakefield prepared and published 
a " History of the Black Hawk War," a little volume which is 
now extremely rare. The author served during the campaign. 
His description of the Four Lakes is interesting, and is here 
given: 

" Here it may not be uninteresting to the reader to give a 
small outline of these lakes. From a description of the coun- 
tr3^, a person would very naturally suppose that those lakes 
were as little pleasing to the eye of the traveler as the country 
is. But not so. I think they are the most beautiful bodies of 
water I ever saw. The first one that we came to, was about ten 
miles in circumference, and the water as clear as crystal. The 
earth sloped back in a gradual rise ; the bottom of the lake ap- 
peared to be entirely covered with white pebbles, and no appear- 
ance of its being the least swampy. The second one that we 
came to appeared to be much larger. It must have been twen- 
ty miles in circumference. The ground rose very high all 
around; and the heaviest kind of timber grew close to the 
water's edge. If these lakes were anywhere else except in the 
country they are, they would be considered among the wonders 
of the world. Bttt the country they are situated in., is not Jit for 
any civilized nation of people to inhabit. It cqypears that the 
Almighty intended it for the chikhen of the forest. The other 
two lakes we did not get close enough to, for me to give a de- 
scription of them; but those who saw them stated that they 
were very much like the others." 

It is probable that Mr. Wakefield would form a different 
idea of the country in this section, if he could see it at the 
present time. Forty years have made great changes, and lands 
which he thought were worthless have brought one hundred 
dollars an acre and upwards, not making mention of lots be- 
tween the Third and Fourth Lakes, now occupied by the city 
of Madison. 

On the 15th and 16th of October of this year, 1832, Capt. 
Low, of Fort Winnebago, with James HALPii^and Archibald 



24 HISTORY OF MADISON A^ND THE 

Crismai?- encamped on Fourth (Mendota) Lake ridge. At this 
time about five hundred Indians were located between the site 
of the present state capitol on the shores of the lake. These 
Indians came here for the purpose of traffic with a French 
trader named Louis Armel. Capt. Low came from the Fort in 
pursuit of some deserters whom they readily found, as they had 
imbibed too freely of the French traders' bad whiskey to be 
well qualified to secrete themselves. Mr. Armel had his goods 
in a temporary Indian-built hut near the present stone resi- 
dence of J. B. Norton on Johnson street. 

Another trader who was doing business in this section in 
1832, was Wallace Row^ak, a rough and hardy pioneer who 
located at the head of Mendota Lake, and was there at the 
outbreak of the Black Hawk war; reference has been made 
to his finding the gold watch of Lieut. William Force. Not 
long after he removed to Squaw or Strawberry Point, on 
the eastern bank of Lake Monona, and with William B. 
LoKG entered, in 1835, the fractional tract embracing the point. 
He was afterwards joined by Abraham Wood; but selling out 
his fifty-two acres to Col. Wm. B. Slaughter, March 28, 1838, 
he removed to the present locality of Poynette, where, for sev- 
eral years he kept a house of entertainment, and still later to 
Baraboo, where he and Wood built a mill, and where he died. 
Unlike most early Indian traders, his wife was a white woman. 

Another of the early traders at the Four Lakes, was Abel 
Rasdall, who from his long residence here is entitled to par- 
ticular notice. He was a native of Kentucky, born August 15, 
1805, in Barron county, son of Robert and Elizabeth Ras- 
dall. He was raised a farmer. When a young man he went 
to Missouri and engaged in lead mining, and in 1828 went 
to Galena and assisted awhile the late Col. James Morri- 
son in his mining operations at Portfer's Grove, about nine 
miles west of Blue Mounds, and soon engaged in the business 
of an Indian trader, locating his cabin on the eastern shore of 
First Lake, about a half mile south of its outlet. He married 
a Winnebago woman by whom he had three children, and was 
a real help-meet to him in the Indian trade, and accompanying 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 25 

liim to Fort Winnebago at some Indian payment there, she 
sickened and died of small pox, Rasdall alone attending her 
and burying her remains. He had been vaccinated when young, 
and did not take the disease. He subsequently married another 
Winnebago woman; they had no issue, and when her people 
migrated west, she concluded to go with them — so Rasdall 
and his Indian wife cut a blanket in two, each taking a part, 
the Indian mode of divorce. 

Mr. Rasdall's services in the Black Hawk war have previ- 
ously been referred to. In his trading with the Indians, he did 
not by any means, confine himself to his trading establishment, 
but would pack several ponies with goods, and would take a 
tour among the Indian camps and settlements, and dicker off 
his goods for skins and furs. He obtained his goods at Galena, 
where he disposed of his furs and peltry. Not only ponies 
were used for packing and transporting goods, but Indians also. 

In 181:6, he was married to Maky A^i^ Pitcher, in Madison, 
by whom he had three sons. Mr. Rasdall died at his home at 
Token Creek, Dane county. Wis., June 6, 1857, at the age of 
nearly 52 years. He will long be remembered as an early set- 
tler of Dane county, his trading adventures around the Four 
Lakes having commenced as early as 1831. 

Another early trader, and perhaps the only one not hereto- 
fore referred to as doing business on the lakes, was Michel St. 
Cyr. An interesting biography of him has been prepared by 
L. C. Draper, LL. D., and published in Vol. VI of the Collec- 
tions of the State Historical Society, and from which the fol- 
lowing extract is taken: 

" St. Cyr was a Canadian half-breed (his mother's name was 
Kee-no-kau, a Winnebago woman), born about 1806; had al- 
ways lived on the frontier and among the Indians, and could 
speak English quite well, though he was entirely illiterate. 
He was a man of ordinary size, about one hundred and fifty 
pounds weight ; with a thin visage, dark complexion, black hair 
and eyes, a quick step, and a ready, active man generally, in 
both body and mind. He was amiable, and kind to all, and 
scorned a dishonest man or a liar. He exercised a commanding 
3 



26 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

influence over that portion of the Winnebagoes with whom he 
was associated. He succeeded RowAisr as a trader at the head 
of Fourth Lake — whisky and tobacco constituted his stock in 
trade. The whisky was at first dealt out to his Indian custom- 
ers in full strength, and pretty liberal quantities, until they 
became considerably oblivious, when the liquor was diluted, 
and finally, as they became still more intoxicated, water was 
freely substituted, and, as St. Cyr said, answered every pur- 
pose. But this trade was not sufficient for a livelihood, and 
St. Cye cultivated about eight acres of ground, surrounded 
with a rude fence, raising corn, oats, potatoes, and a few vege- 
tables. His cabin was a small aff'air, about twelve feet square, 
with a dirt floor; and almost adjoining it was a stable of about 
the same dimensions. With a Winnebago woman for his wife, 
and two sons and two daughters, all young, he entertained the 
very few travelers that passed through the country. When 
A. F. Pratt and companion stopped there in February, 1837, as 
related in the first volume of the Wisconsin Historical Collec- 
tions, they had served up to them a kind of pot-pie which relished 
very well; and after finishing their meal, and inquiring what 
kind of meat they had eaten, they were informed that it 
was musk-rat. Indeed muskrats, and occasionally pheasants, 
seemed to form the principal viands for his table; and St. Cyr 
would pleasantly observe, that the Englishmen, meaning white 
people generally, ' would just as soon eat pheasant as rat, when 
all were cooked up together.' " 

St. Cyr resided at a point a little north of the mouth of 
Pheasant Branch, where the City of the Four Lakes was lo- 
cated and platted,, and now owned by Mr. James Liyesey, about 
six miles from the State University. His place was tlie near- 
est to the location of Madison. He received from Col. Slaugh- 
ter some two hundred dollars for his trifiing improvements, 
and about the first of July, 1838, he removed first to Minneso- 
ta, and soon after to the Winnebago Reservation in Iowa, and 
there he died about 1864. His two sons grew up worthless fel- 
lows among the Indians, and, as some of the Winnebagoes re- 
ported, ''they drink heap of whisky." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 27 

Michel St. Cyr was one of tlie lialf-breqcl Canadian race of 
the coiireurs cles hois^ voijageurs and Indian traders, whose 
wants were few and simple, and who, in manners, customs and 
acquirements, were but slightly in advance of the Indians 
with -whom they associated, lived and died. It was only the 
mere accident of his having been temporarily an early settler 
of this section of country, and the humble part he took in the 
primitive survey of Madison, as will hereafter appear, that led 
to the perpetuation of his name and career in these early rem- 
inisces of the country. 

In the year 1834: the preliminary steps were taken by the 
General Government to have the lands in this locality surveyed 
and brought into market, and we find by the volume of Field 
Notes in the office of the School and University Land Com- 
missioners, that February 4, Mr. Oesok Lyoj^t contracted with 
M. T. Williams, Esq., United States Surveyor General for the 
States of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, to survey fractional 
township seven, north of range nine, east of the fourth princi- 
pal meridian, in the Northwest Territory, comprising the pres- 
ent town of Madison. 

These lands, including others adjacent, were surveyed in the 
month of December of that year, and certified to hy Orsok 
Lyoin", Deputy Surveyor, Harrisoj^ Flesher and JoHi^' 
Straight, chain-bearers, and Madison" Young, ax-man, on 
the 6th of that month. Accompanying the notes is a drawing 
of the grounds and the lakes. 

In the summer or autumn, 1835, Col. William B. Slaugh- 
ter"^ entered the tract of land occupied by St. Cyr, and on the 

*Col. William B. Slaughter was a native of Culpepper county, Va.; 
born April iq, 1797, and was educated at William and Mary's College, 
Va. He removed to Bardstown, Kentucky, where he practiced law from 
1827 to 1829, and, in 1830, removed to Bedford, Lawrence county, Indiana. 
In 1832, was elected a member of the legislature, when he introduced the 
Indiana resolutions, svistaining President Jackson's proclamation on the 
subject of nullification and threatened secession in South Carolina. He 
was appointed Register of the Land Office at Indianapolis in 1833, which 
position he resigned the year following, and was appointed to the same 
office at Green Bay in 1835. While serving in that capacity he was elected 



28 HISTOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

20tli of December conveyed an undivided interest to Judge J. 
D. Doty, with a view of having a town laid out there, and 
eventually securing the location of the Territorial Capital at 
that point. Accordinglj^, Judge Doty employed John Bak- 
isriSTEE, a survej^or of Green Bay (who subsequently removed 
to Fond du Lac, and died there), to lay out the City of the Four 
Lakes^ where RowAisr and St, Cyr had successively traded, and 
where Gen. Dodge had held a conference with the Winneba- 
goes. May 25, 1832. It was surveyed and platted probably in 
June, 'ISSG, as the certificate of the plat bears date July 7 of 
that year. This (Aiy (on paper) at one time had high aspira- 
tions for the seat of government, but owing to circumstances 
not necessary here to state, it failed to win the coveted prize. 

J. V. SuYDAM, Esq., of Green Bay, in a letter to Dr. L. C. 
Draper, thus refers to his visit to Madison with Gov. Doty for 
the purpose of laying out and surveying the plat for the vil- 
lage: 

" On the second day of October, Gov. Doty and myself 
started from Green Bay on horseback, he with his green blanket 
and shot gun, that had been his companions on many and 

a member of the Legislative Cotmcil of Michigan, which assembled at 
Green Bay in the winter of 1835, and was the author of the memorial to 
Congress prajing to disconnect the territory lying west of Lake Michigan 
from the State of Michigan, and to be organized into a new Territory to 
be called Wisconsin. 

He resigned the office of Register in 1841. In May, 1837, he came to 
the " City of the Four Lakes," a plat of which was laid out and put on 
record July 7, 1836, by M. L. Martin, W. B. Slaughter and J. D. Doty, 
proprietors. Mr. Slaughter opened up a farm and made it his residence 
until 1845, when he removed to his old home in Virginia; but at the be- 
ginning of the late war (1861) he returned to Wisconsin, and .located in 
the town of Middleton, Dane county. 

In 1862 he was appointed Commissary of Subsistence and Qiiartermas- 
ter by President Lincoln, and served one year, Avhen he retired, and re- 
turned to Wisconsin, where he still resides at his home in sight of the 
City of Madison. Although in his 77th year, he is strong and active as 
most persons one half his age. He has delivered a nvimber of lectures on 
moral, philosophical and pohtical subjects, which have been greatly ad- 
mired for their genius, learning and eloquence. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 29 

many a trip tlirongli the almost trackless wilds of Wisconsin, 
and I with my compass and chain. We were both provided 
for camping out wherever night should overtake us ; and for the 
more solid part of our forage, we were to depend upon the Gov- 
ernor's gun. On our way we stopped at various places, among 
which were ClifPton, at the north end of Winnebago Lake, 
where Ave laid out the village bearing that name, out of respect 
to an extensive ledge of rock that crops out at that point; and 
at Duck creek, on the east bank of the Wisconsin river, about 
eight or ten miles below Portage City, where we laid out the 
town of Wisconsinapolis. 

" Finally, after about eight days from the time of leaving 
home, we reached what was then called ' Four Lakes.' We 
came by the trail that led around by the north side and west 
end of Fourth Lake, and found near what might be called 
the northwest corner, and perhaps two miles from where 
the University buildings now stand, a small log house, occu- 
pied by a man whose name I have forgotten,* who entertained 
our horses and ourselves nights, and assisted us day times in 
making such meanders and surveys of the shores of the Third 
and Fourth Lakes, and other points, as were necessary for mak- 
ing the plat of the future city. This took us, I think, three 
days. The precise time in which the survey and original plat 
of the city were made, w^as during the second and third Aveeks 
of October, while the Legislature was in session at Belmont. 

" While standing at the section corner, on that beautiful spot 
between the Lakes, then the central point of a wilderness, with 
no civilization nearer than Fort Winnebago on the north, and 
Blue Mounds on the w^est, and but very little there ; and over 
Avhich now stands the principal entrance to one of the finest cap- 
itol structures in the west — I have no doubt Grov. Doty saw 
in his far-reaching mind, just what we now see actually ac- 
complished, a splendid city surrounding the capitol of Wiscon- 
sin at Four Lakes, as he remarked to me then, that I need not 
be surprised to learn that the seat of government of AViscon- 
sin was located on that spot before the Legislature had adjourned. 
And sure enough, it so happened. 

* Michel St. Cyr. 



30 HISTORY OF MADISON A^'D THE 

" We went directly to Belmont, where the Legislature was 
in session. On arriving there, I immediately set about draw- 
ing the plat of Madison, the Governor, in the mean time, giv- 
ing me minute directions as to its whole plan, every item of 
which having originated with him while on the ground as being 
the most suitable, and best calculated, to develop the peculiar 
topography of the place. 

" As soon as the plats were completed, I returned home alone, 
leaving the Governor behind to carry out his object. On the 
adjournment of the Legislature, quite a number of gentlemen, 
I never learned how many, belonging to that body, went to 
their homes the owners of sundry corner lots in a new town, 
and the seat of government of Wisconsin was permanently lo- 
cated at Madison, while the temporary locality was to be at 
Burlington, on the west side of the Mississippi, until the capi- 
tol buildings were erected and got ready for occupancy. 

" Gov. Doty had the honor of naming the county of Dane 
after some notable person and circumstance connected with the 
passage of the Ordinance of 1787, for the government of the 
territory northwest of the Ohio, which he wished might be 
preserved in this imperishable way ; and the name was given to 
the city by him in honor of President Madisoi^, whose mem- 
ory he held in very high esteem." 

Mr. SuYDAM certifies, October 27, 1836, that he had carefully 
meandered and measured the exterior lines of the plat of the 
town of Madison; and Judge Doty certifies to its correctness 
November 4, 1836, at Belmont. 

It may be desirable at this point to give a brief account of 
the place selected for the seat of Government, as a matter of his- 
toric interest. The village (now city) of Madison, is situated 
in latitude 43 degrees 4 minutes and 20 seconds north, and lon- 
gitude 89 degrees 20 minutes west from Greenwich, or 12 de- 
grees 20 minutes west from Washington; another authority 
makes it nine minutes further west, or ten and one-third miles. 
The grounds occupy under the city charter, the greater por- 
tion of sections 13, 14, 23 and 24 of town 7 north from the base 
line or southern boundary of the state, and range 9 east from 
the fourth principal meridian: these sections have their corner 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 31 

under the western doorway of the rotunda of the capitol. This 
point is about seventy-five miles in an air line from Lake Mich- 
igan, about ninety miles from the Mississippi river, thirt}- 
nine miles from the southern, and two hundred and forty miles 
from the northern boundary of the state, at its nearest point on 
Lake Superior, and two hundred and sixty-four from the ex- 
treme northern limit of the state. It is therefore very near the 
centre of the state of which it is the capitol on an east and 
west line but far from the center of a north and south line. It 
is twenty-three miles from the western and nineteen miles from 
the eastern boundary of Dane county, of which it is the 
capital seat, and midway between the northern and southern 
boundaries being fifteen miles from each. 

The site of Madison is a i undulating isthmus between Lake 
Mendota (Fourth Lake) on the northwest, and Lake Monona 
(Third Lake) on the southeast. These lakes are 788 feet above 
the Atlantic Ocean and 210 feet above Lake Michigan. 

The most elevated ground within the present cit}^ limits, is 
" University Hill," the summit of which is about 125 feet above 
the surrounding lakes. The ground upon which the capitol 
stands is about 75 feet, and the ridge that skirts Lake Mendota, 
about 80 feet above the level of the water. Northeast of the 
capitol, each of the lakes is skirted by a ridge perhaps thirty or 
forty feet high. Between these ridges the ground is flat, and 
was formerly a wet marsh. The efforts to reclaim this tract by 
draining and by lowering Lake Monona have been successful, 
and a number of dwellings and shops have been erected upon 
it; also the works of the Madison Gas Light and Coke Coui- 
pany. The site of the city, with this exception, is abundantly 
high and so rolling as to afford perfect drainage and beautiful 
building sites. Much has been said of its beauty. Horace 
Greeley, Bayard Taylor and other distinguished visitors 
have described the charming lake scenery by which we are sur- 
rounded in such glowing terms as to give Madison a national 
reputation. The visitor has only to survey the city from the 
dome of the State Capitol, the State University, the Park Ho- 
tel or Vilas House, to satisfy himself that the world affords 
few more delightful prospects. 



32 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Hon. JoHis- Catlin,* now of Elizabeth, N. J., one of the 
earliest of our pioneers, and who was the first Clerk of the 
Supreme Court of the Territory, the first attorney and District 
Attorney of Dane county, and the first postmaster of Madison, 
has given the following account of the early years of his resi- 
dence : 

" The territorial government of Wisconsin was organized 
and took effect on the 4th of July, 1836. The legislature was 
convened by proclamation of Gov. Heney Dodge to meet at 
Belmont in November of that year. I was at Belmont during 
the session when the Capital was established by law at Madi- 

* Hon. John Catlin was born in Orwell, Vt., on the 13th day of Octo- 
ber, 1803. He was the son of John B. Catlin, and a descendant of the 
6th generation of Thomas Catlin who was a resident of Hartford, Conn., 
1645, 6, and from whom a large part of the persons of that name in this 
country are supposed to have descended. His mother's name was Rosa 
Ormsbee, daughter of John Ormsbee of Shoreham, Vt. Both of his 
grandparents served through the Revolutionary War, and died in Ver- 
mont at an advanced age. His grandfather on his fathers side, was one 
of seven brothers all engaged in the Revolution, and were all stalwart 
men, remarkable foi size, being all six feet in height and well propor- 
tioned. His grandfather Ormsbee was a Lieutenant and was honorably 
discharged at the close of the war, receiving $1,400 in continental money 
for his services, and when he returned to his family in Massachusetts 
paid $60 — of it for a bushel of corn, so great was its depreciation. 

Mr. Catlin's father was a merchant, but when the war of 1812, broke 
out, retired to a farm on Lake Champlain in the town of Bridport, 
Addison Co., Vt, where Mr. Catlin was raised, receiving only a common 
school education with the exception of a year at Newton Academy in 
Shoreham, and a few months study of French in Canada. When 
eighteen years of age he took a school and continued to teach for nine 
winters, during which time he educated himself, studied law with Hon. 
Augustus C. Hand of Elizabethtown New York, and was admitted to 
the Bar in 1833. In the spring of 1836 he removed to the west, and 
settled at Mineral Point, in May of that year, entering into partnership 
with Hon. Moses M. Strong. 

When the seat of government was located at Madison, Mr. Catlin was 
appointed Postmaster and established the office in May, 1837, and remov- 
ed to Madison permanently in the spring of 1838. On the election of 
Gen. Harrison to the Presidency, Mr. Catlin was removed on political 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 3d 

son, then in the wiklerness, with only three white men residing 
in what is now Dane county. These were Ebexezer Brig- 
ham, Ebei^ Peck residing with him at the East Blue Mound, 
and Abel Rasdall residing at the First Lake. Michel St. 
Cyr, a half breed, residing at the head of Fourth Lake. The 
legislature formed the plan of organizing a territorial govern- 
ment west of the Mississippi river, and to divide the territory 
by that river, which was subsequently accomplished, and the 
territorial government of Iowa organized, and this was the 
main reason for locating the seat of government at Madison, 

grounds, and restored by Mr, WicklifF who was appointed Postmaster 
General under President Tyler. Mr. Catlin continued to hold the office 
until his election to the council in 1844 when he resigned, as he could not 
by law hold both offices. On the organization of the Supreme Court in 
the fall of 1S36, Mr. Catlin received the appointment of clerk, and was 
chief clerk of the House of Representatives of the Territory from 1838 
until 1845 when L. F. Kellogg succeeded him to that office. On the 
organization of Dane County for county and Judicial purposes, Mr, Catlin 
was appointed District Attorney. 

In 1846 Mr. George R, C. Floyd being in default to the United States 
Government as Secretary of the Territory, was removed and Mr, Catlin 
was appointed to that office by President Polk which he held until the 
admission of the Territory as a State in 1848. 

The State of Wisconsin was admitted into the Union, with its western 
boundary by the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers, leaving out a full organ- 
ized county with a sheriff, clerk of court, judge of probate and justices 
of the peace which had formerly been included within the limits of the 
Territory and under its government and laws. A bill had been intro- 
duced at a previous session Congress by Hon. Morgan L, Martin the 
delegate from Wisconsin, to organize a territorial government for Min- 
nesota, including the district left out on the admission of Wisconsin, but 
which failed to become a law on account of the slavery question. The 
citizens of what is now Minnesota, were very anxious to obtain a terri- 
toral government and two public meetings were held, one at St. Paul, 
and the other at Stillwater, advising and soliciting Mr. Catlin, who was 
Secretary of Wisconsin, to issue a proclamation, as the acting Governor 
for the election of a delegate. 

On consultation with Governor Dodge who had been elected to the 
Senate for the new State (and consequently had vacated the office of 
Governor), and on the resignation of Hon. John H. Tweedy of the office 



34 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

wliicli would be in about the center of the territory, between 
the east and the west, if the territory (now the state of Iowa) 
should be set off. They had, however, another reason, which 
was the settlement of the interior, and the opening up of the 
country at a time when population was greatly to be desired. 
Provision was made for building a capitol to be commenced in 
the spring of 1837, and by the advice of members of the legis- 
lature I agreed to locate at Madison, was recommended for and 
appointed postmaster, having been previously appointed Clerk 

of Delegate, Mr. Catlin repaired to Stillwater and issued a proclamation 
for the election of Delegate. Hon. H. H. Siblej was elected, and nearly 
four hundred votes were polled at the election. Gen. Sibley presented his 
certificate of election to Congress which was referred to a committee 
which reported in favor of the admission of the Delegate; the committee 
taking the same view Mr. Catlin had taken, and Gen. Siblej was admitt- 
ed to his seat on the floor of congress bj a vote of two to one, most of 
the southern members opposing, contending that the Territoral Govern- 
ment fell on the admission of Wisconsin. The admission of Gen. Sibley 
facilitated and hastened the passage of a bill for the organization 
of a Territorial Government for Minnesota which Gen. Sibley was 
enable to get passed notwithstanding the opposition of the southern 
members. Mr. Catlin subsequently was elected to the office of County 
Judge of Dane county, which he resigned on being appointed President 
of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company, when he removed to 
Milwaukee when the principal office of the companj^ was kept. Mr. Catlin 
rendered efficient service in the building of the Milwaukee & Mississippi 
road. He was mainly instrumental in procuring in the banking law a 
provision making first mortgage bonds of railroads to the amount of 
fifty per cent, the basis of banking, under certain restrictions, a provis- 
ion which enabled him to sell and issue of $600,000 of bonds on the said 
road, which breathed into the corporation the breath of life, and gave it 
a grand start towards the Mississippi. 

Mr. Catlin declined a re-election as president in 1856, and on the nth 
of February the Board of Directors tendered him their thanks for the able 
and efficient manner in which for the past five years he had discharged 
the arduous and responsible dnties of that office. 

After the failure of the company in the revulsion of 1857, Mr. Catlin 
was again elected President, and re-organized the company under the 
name of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railway, and was Vice 
President until the consolidation of the company with the Milwaukee & 
St. Paul. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 35 

of tlie Supreme Court at its first session held at Belmont in 
1836. 

" My first visit to Madison was in company with Moses M. 
Stroj^g, Esq., JosiAH A. Nooi^AN and Geo. Messersmith, early 
in the year 1837 (or in December, 1836) to survey out and find 
the lines of Mr. Nooi^an's* lands lying just west and adjoining 
Madison. We found the snow very deep, and after a hard 
day's work, wading in the snow, we camped at night between 
the Third Lake (Monona) and Dead Lake (Wingra), where 
we found some thick timber and a sheltered spot. With 
a good deal of difficulty we made a log heap fire and eat our 
snack, and after the fire had thawed the snow, and warmed the 
ground, we removed the fire to a little distance and made our 
bed on the ashes where the fire had warmed the ground. The 
weather was extremely cold, but we slept warm, and the next 
morning Mr. Noonan" left us on horseback for Milwaukee. 
The snow being too deep to survey out and find the corners of 
lots and blocks in Madison, and the weather extremely cold, 
we returned to Mineral Point to wait for milder weather. 

''In February, 1837, I again visited Madison with Mr. 
Strokg, who had been employed by Judge James D. Doty 
(who platted the town from the township plats without a 
survey) to survey out some lots and blocks around the public 
square according to the plat he furnished, so that those persons 
who intended to build, could find their lots. We found that the 
snow still covered the ground, and we stuck the stakes in the 
snow, the ground being too deeply frozen in most places to receive 
the stakes. We camped in the timber in the low grounds under 
the hill of the Fourth Lake, and were compelled to abandon 
our work by a severe snow storm, that so blinded us, that it 
was with great difficulty we found our way across the Fourth 
Lake to the cabin of St. Cyr, where we staj^ed two days, until 
the storm was over. While here I made a contract with him 
to erect the body of a log house on lot 3, in block 90, where 



*These lands were what is generally known as the " Darwin Meadow 
Lawn Farm," now the property of Daniel Campbell. 



36 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

the postoffice now stands, wliicli he put up m that month, but 
the house was not finished and completed until spring. 

'' In the spring I drew the pine lumber to finish the house 
from Helena, on the .Wisconsin river, at a cost of over 190 per 
thousand feet, and was so unfortunate, after its completion in 
very good style, as to have the inside burnt out before any one 
lived in it. I again visited Madison in March, where I found 
Mr. Ebek Peck drawing logs to erect a house which was 
partially completed in April, and in May he removed into it, 
which was the first house built in Madison that any one lived 
in. Mr. Peck kept on adding to it until it was capacious 
enough to entertain comfortably, the travelers and first settlers 
who visited Madison and it was then a great accommodation. 
On the 27th day of May, 1837, I established the postofiice by 
appointing Luther Peck as deputy, and the first mails were 
opened and the office kept in Mr. E. Peck's house, his being 
the onl}' family in Madison. 

'^ In June, 1837, Mr. Augustus A. Bird, one of the commis- 
sioners of public buildings, arrived from Milwaukee with quite 
a large number of mechanics, and commenced building a board- 
ing house, office, steam mill, store and hotel, preparatory to the 
erection of the capitol, and very soon the excavation for the 
foundation of the capitol building was commenced. James 
MoRRisoj^ was the contractor and Mr. Bird was the acting- 
commissioner and superintendent, and had the general man- 
agement. A mail route was established between Milwaukee 
and Mineral Point, carried on horseback, Avliich first supplied 
Madison, but afterwards the mail route from Galena, Illinois, 
to Fort Winnebago, carried in a two horse stage, was changed 
to go via Madison. 

'' On the 4th of July, 1837, Mr. SiMEOiq- Mills was sworn in 
as deputy postmaster, and kept the office in a one story log 
building on lot 8 in block 108 during that year, and the sum- 
mer of 1838, until he became a mail contractor on the route 
between Milwaukee and Madison. 

'' The second session of the legislature was held at Burlington 
(now Iowa) in the fall of 1837 and winter of 1838, where I 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 37 

spent the winter, and was not therefore at Madison, but I liave 
been told of the high prices and short supplies that prevailed 
among the few residents of the town. Flour was 820 per 
barrel, salt S30, but other articles were more reasonable. Salt 
and flour had to be hauled from Galena through the timbers 
and across the prairies, with scarcely any roads for the first 
forty miles west of Madison. In the spring of 1838 there was 
some relief to the high prices, but the times were what men 
called " hard " as there was no money except " wild cat " and 
" shin plasters," which soon ceased to be of value. Judge 
Doty issued his own notes, handsomely engraved, which passed 
current at Madison and in other places and were all redeemed. 
The wild cat banks of Michigan flooded the new territory, and 
after being put in circulation soon became of no value, and 
made the times harder than ever to the new settlers. What gave 
rise to the " wild cat " ,and '' shin plasters " was the speculation 
of 1836-7, caused by the removal of the deposits of the govern- 
ment from the United States Bank to the state banks, which 
induced the latter to discount freely and greatly to expand 
the paper circulation of the country, and in the spring of 
1837, President Jacksok issued the " specie circular " which 
arrested the speculation, and a general suspension and failure of 
the banks was the consequence. 

" The third session of the legislature was held in Madison in 
the winter of 1838. Two hotels called the " American " and 
" Madison " having been erected, together with several private 
houses for the accommodation of the members. Mr. J. A. 
Nooi^AK published the first paper printed at Madison, called 
the '' Wisconsin Enquirer," and was the public printer of the 
legislature. 

'' The ' American Hotel ' was kept by Messrs. Fake & Cot- 
ton, and the ''Madison" by Mr. Chas. H. Bird, and the fare 
was quite passable. There was a number of private houses 
that boarded members and officers of the legisature. I heard 
but few complaints of short-commons at that session. 

'• On the Fourth of July, 1837, we had an impromptu cele- 
bration at Peck's Mansion house. There were present James D. 



38 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

Doty, Thos. W. Sutherland, E. P. Deacon, two of the Messrs. 
ScHERMERHORNS of New Yoi'k, JoHN Messersmith, Seiiior, 
John D. Ansley, Simeon Mills, myself and many others nearly 
all accidentally met on the occasion. We had refreshments 
with champagne, lemonade, punch, toasts and some conver- 
sational speeches. It was quite enjoyable, the more so from 
the absence of clap-trap and parade, and the noise of gunpow- 
der usual upon such occasions. The day was fine and the coun- 
try about the four lakes to me, at least never looked more beau- 
tiful. A more enthusiastic company with " great expectations " 
could rarely be found. 

" In the spring of 1839, the county of Dane was organized for 
judicial purposes, and the '' District Court " opened and estab- 
lished by the appointment of Simeon Mills clerk. Judge Dayid 
Irwin presiding. There was no business to be done, the legis- 
lature having previously passed a " stay law " which for the 
time being prevented the collection of debts. There was no 
criminal business for the courts of the Territory for a long time 
after its organization, and this fact is greatly to the credit of 
the early "pioneers " or first settlers, nor was there much liti- 
gation. Almost the first business for the courts and lawyers, 
grew out of the passage of the bankrupt act of 1841, which 
was passed to relieve the unfortunate debtors of the consequen- 
ces of the speculation of 1836, and the revulsion of 1837. 
" Hard times " prevailed for many years afterwards and until 
Benton's '' mint drops " came into general circulation. Dur- 
ing several years of general prostration of the country, gold 
flowed into the country from Europe to fill the vacuum, caused 
by the failure of the banks. Opposition to banks and corpora- 
tions generally, was one of the cardinal principles of the Dem- 
ocratic party in those days, and the great mass of the western 
people were in favor of the doctrine. The hard times continued 
until 1848, when gold was discovered in California, and soon 
after the times began to change, and property began to rise in 
value. The settlement of Madison and the interior of the state 
was very slow, until the building of the Milwaukee and Missis- 
sippi Kailroad, and that caused a great accession of population 



FOUE LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 39 

and rise in the value of real estate. Tlie state census of 1855 
showed the population of the state to be a little over 300,000, 
and that of 1860 gave 777,000, thus more than doubling the 
population in five years. 

" Notwithstanding the " hard times " and the impossibility 
of making money and " getting along in the world " there was 
much real happiness and enjoyment among the early settlers, 
all were friendly and good will prevailed. The " almighty dol- 
lar " had not then taken possession of their souls to the exclu- 
sion of the milk of human kindness for each other, and the ex- 
pectation of what Madison and. the future state of Wisconsin 
were to be, and the future wealth the}^ were sure to acquire, kept 
them in good spirits and made life endurable. The absence of 
fashion and pride, and the chilling influence of wealth made their 
wants few, and they were content with Mr. Micawber's philos- 
ophy of " waiting for things to turn up." 

" There was plenty of leisure for hunting and fishing, and 
both game and fish were plenty. Let me tell a " fish story " 
right here, which luckily for the truth of history is capable of 
verification by a living witness, and many living who may have 
heard it at the time. On the first day of May in 1839, return- 
ing from Cottage Grove with LaFayette Kellogg, Esq., we 
discovered a large catfish near the shore of the head of Third 
Lake, and I suggested the idea of stopping to catch him. Mr. K. 
laughed heartily at the suggestion and said I could not get with- 
in two rods of him. I replied that he did not understand the 
nature of the animal, and that he was sunning and stupefied 
by the pleasure. The sun was shining warmly and the fish was 
near the top of the water, I waded out quietly and putting my 
hands gently, one under his head, and the other at the tail, 
lifted him out of the water and landed him safely upon the shore 
before he was awake from his stupor. He weighed thirtj-five 
pounds ! 

"Judge Frazier, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, 
appointed from Pennsylvania, was a ver}^ able judge, (when not 
under the influence of liquor), and remarkable for his ability, 
memory and knowledge of law. A term of the court was 



4:0 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

to be held at Madison, in July, 1838, at tlie old Madison 
Hotel, which was only partially finished. The judge came 
on from Pennsylvania to hold the term, but the other judges, 
Dui^i^ and Ikvii^, did not attend. The judge insisted on 
opening the court and holding the term as the law required. 
I informed him that there was no business and no lawyers in 
attendance. He said that made no difference. It was neces- 
sary to adopt rules, and accordingly the court was opened, the 
judge dictated from memory, and I wrote the rules, but they 
were not adopted by the other judges. The climate of Madi- 
son, however, at that dry time at the capital, did not suit the 
judge, as the ''critter" or ''0 be joyful" was not there, except 
some Chinese cordial in the store of Jas. Moreison, which 
Mr. Bird had charge of, in the absence of Mr. Morrison. 
This cordial was put up in a very handsome and expensive set 
of- china-ware representing Mandarins, and by the liberality of 
Mr. Bird, the whole set was emptied by the judge while hold- 
ing the term (about a dozen bottles). When the cordial had 
all leaked out, the judge took his departure, and never held 
another term. He died at Milwaukee, November 8, 1838. 
Judge A. Gf. Miller was soon after appointed in his place, who 
proved to be a very temperate and upright jurist, and gave gen- 
eral satisfaction. On the organization of the state government. 
Judge Miller received the appointment of District Judge of 
the United States Court for the District of Wisconsin, which 
he held until his resignation January 1, 1873, at the age of 72, 
having held the ofl&ce of United States Judge in Wisconsin — 
Territory and State — over 35 years. 

''The rules of practice for the district courts of the Terri- 
tory, were prepared by Judge Miller, and were adopted by the 
judges of the supreme court at the term of 1810. These rules 
were published in primer form, and were the uniform rules of 
practice in the several district courts until after the admission 
of the State into the Union. 

"The only men I remember living in Dane county in 1837, 
other than the men who came with A. A. Bird to work on the 
capitol, were Ebenezer Brigham at the Blue Mounds, JoHif 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 41 

Kellogg at the same place, the .two Pecks, Abel Rasdall 
at First Lake, Covalle at Second Lake, Abeam Wood at 
Wood's Point on Third Lake, and St. Cyr at the City of the 
Four Lakes. Horace Lawrej^^ce, I think^ came during the 
same year, and also JoHiq" Ston^er. Berry Hakey lived at 
Cross Plains. I staid one night at his place, on my way to 
Green Bay, in September, 1836. 

"Col. Ab. Nichols, who built 'The Worser,' where the 
United States Hotel afterwards stood, was a noted person in 
early times, but, on the whole, a very good sort of man. It 
was he that named Mineral Point ' Shake Rag,' from a white 
cloth that used to be hung out to call the miners to dinner. 
The colonel reformed at the close of his life, united with the 
church, and became a sincere and devoted christian." 

A. F. Pratt, Esq., of Waukesha, in the first volume of the 
Collections of the State Historical Society, gives a notice of 
Judge Frazier, which is re-published in connection with Mr. 
Catlin's account of the early judiciary: 

" The Territory of Wisconsin was organized in July, 1836. 
It was divided into three Judicial Districts. Judge Dujf:N" was 
appointed for the Western District, Judge Irwin^ for the Mid- 
dle, and Judge Frazier, of Pennsylvania, for the Eastern. 
Judge Frazier arrived in Milwaukee on a Sunday evening, in 
June, 1837. He put up at the small hotel which stood where 
" Dickerman's Block " now stands, which was called the * * 
* * Tavern, kept by Mr. Vail. On his arrival he fell in 
with some old Kentucky friends, who invited him to a private 
room, for the purpose of participating in an innocent game of 
"poA:er." The party consisted of the Judge, Col. Morto^^", 
Register of the Land Office, and two or three others — friends 
of the Judge. They commenced playing for small sums at 
first, but increased them as the hours passed, until the dawn of 
day, the next morning — when small sums seemed beneath their 
notice. The first approach of day was heralded to them by 
the ringing of the bell for breakfast. The Judge made a great 
many apologies, saying, among other things, that as that was 
his first appearance in the Territorj^, and as his court opened at 



42 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

10 o'clock that morning, lie must have a little time to prepare 
a charge to the Grand Jury. He therefore hoped that thej^ 
would excuse him, which they accordingly did, and he with- 
drew from the party. The court met at the appointed hour — 
OwEN" Aldrich acting as sheriff, and Cyrus Hawley as clerk. 
The Grand Jur}^ was called and sworn. The Judge with much 
dignity commenced his charge; and never before did we hear 
such a charge poured forth from the bench! After charging 
them upon the laws generally, he alluded to the statute against 
gambling. The English language is too barren to describe his 
abhorrence of that crime. Among other extravagancies, he 
said, that " a gambler was unfit for earth, heaven or hell; " and 
that " God Almighty would even shudder at the sight of one." 
"At that time, we had but one session of the Legislature, 
which had adopted mostly the statutes of Michigan, which al- 
lowed the court to exercise its discretion in granting stays 
of executions, etc. A suit came up against a man in the Sec- 
ond ward, who had no counsel. The Judge ordered the crier 
to call the defendant. He did so, and the defendant appeared. 
The Judge asked him if he had anything to say against judg- 
ment being rendered against him. He replied, that he did not 
know that he had, as it was an honest debt, but that he was un- 
able to pay it. The Judge inquired what his occupation was. 
He replied that he was a fisherman. Says the Judge, " Can you 
pay it in fish?" The defendant answered, that ''he did not 
know but he could, if he had time to catch them." The Judge 
turned to the clerk, and ordered him to " enter up a judgment, 
payable in fish, and grant a stay of execution for twelve 
months;" at the same time remarking to the defendant, that 
he must surely pay it at the time, and in ^ooc/ fish; for he would 
not be willing to wait so long for " stinking fish." The next suit 
worth}^ of note, was against Wm. M. Denkis, our present Bank 
Comptroller (1854-57.) He, like his predecessor, had no counsel. 
His name was called, and he soon made his appearance. He en- 
tered the court room, wearing his usual smile, whittling, with 
his knife in the left hand. The court addressed him in a 
loud voice, " What are you grinning about, Mr. Dej^kis? " Mr. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 43 

D. replied, that he was not aware that he was laughing. The 
court inquired if he proposed to offer any defense ? He replied 
that he did, but was not ready for trial. " No matter," said the 
Judge, ''there's enough that are ready; the clerk will enter it 
' continued.' " The next case, about which we recollect, was 
the trial of two Indians, who were indicted for murdering a 
man on Rock River. They were also indicted for an assault 
with intent to kill, upon another man, at the same time. The 
trial for murder came off first. They were found guilty, and 
sentenced to be hanged. On the day following they were tried 
for the assault, etc.. found guilty, and sentenced to five years' 
imprisonment, and to pay a fine of five hundred dollars each. 
Governor Dodge, however, deeming it too severe to fine and 
imprison a man after he was hanged, commuted it to imprison- 
ment for life. The Indians were confined in a jail a year or 
two, but were finally pardoned by the Governor. 

" Judge Frazier soon afterwards went to Green Bay, and 
held a court, from whence, for want of a jail in which to con- 
fine prisoners, he sentenced a man, for some trifling offence, " to 
be banished to Turkey River." After the court adjourned, he 
returned to Milwaukee on the steamboat Pennsylvania. She 
anchored in the bay, and the Judge, who was dead drunk at the 
time, was lowered by means of a tackle, into a boat, and rowed 
to the landing, at Walker's Point. From the effect of this 
bacchanalian revel he never recovered. His friend. Col. MoR- 
TOK, took him to his own house, called to his aid our best phy- 
sicians, and all was done that human skill could devise, for the 
restoration of his health; but it was too late; the seeds of death 
had been sown; he lingered in great distress for four or five 
days, and breathed his last.* The members of the bar, gener- 
ally, neglected to attend the funeral ; and having no relatives 
in the state, he hardly received a decent burial. His remains 
were followed to their last resting place by only two members 
of the bar, (Messrs. Ari^old and Crocker,) besides a few friends. 

* Hon. William C. Frazier, Associate Judge for the Territory of Wis- 
consin, died at Milwaukee, October iSth, 1S38, aged sixty-two years. — 
American Almanac, 1840. 



44 HISTORY OF MADISON A:ND THE 

they now remain in the old church yard in the First Ward, 
without even a slab to mark the spot. 

— " The above sketch was written by us from memory, for 
the Wisconsin^ last summer. We now republish it for the 
purpose of doing simple justice to the living, by adding that 
we have since learned that a son of Judge Feazier came to 
Milwaukee some years since, and had the remains of his father 
removed to the new church yard in the Fifth Ward, and prop- 
er tomb-stones erected over them. 

"December 6, 1854." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 45 



CHAPTER II. 

Location of Seat of Government — Territorial Organization — 
Hon. M. M. Strong's Early Surveys — Visit of A. F. Pratt, 
1837 — Arrival of Eben Peck and Family — Featherston- 
haugh's Visit, 1837 — Arrival of A. A. Bird and Party — W. 
Woolcock's Account — Description of Old Capitol — Madison 
Hotel — Names of Workmen — S. Mills' Arrival— Account 
of Early Buildings — Mrs. Roseline Peck's Recollections. 

As the history of Madison is intimately connected with the lo- 
cation of the seat of government, it will be necessary to give a 
brief account of the organization of the Territory, for a better 
understanding of subsequent events. 

Hon. M. M. Steong, in his address in 1870, before the State 
Historical Society, on "Territorial Legislation in Wisconsin, ' 
gives a full account of the organization, and from it the follow- 
wing extracts have been taken: 

" The Territorial Government was established by act of Con- 
gress approved April 20, 1836, and embraced within its bounda- 
ries all the territory now included in the present states of Wis- 
consin, Iowa and Minnesota, and a part of Dakota. Gen. 
He^^ry Dodge was appointed Governor, J. S. Horker Secretary, 
with Chas. Dukit Chief Justice, and other officers. These per- 
sons took the prescribed oath of office July 4. A census of the 
population was soon after taken, and the time of election 
appointed for October 10. The election excited considerable 
interest, growing chiefly out of local considerations. The per- 
manent location of the seat of government, the division of 
counties, and the location of county seats, were questions that 
chiefly influenced the election, while the views of candidates in 
relation to national politics had little or no influence upon the 
results. The Governor, bj^ proclamation, appointed the village 
of Belmont as the place for the first session of the Legislature, 
and October 25th as the time for the meeting. 



46 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

" The great and paramount question of the session was the 
location of the seat of government. To this all others were 
subordinate and made subservient. The wild spirit of specu- 
lation, which, in the earlier part of the year 1836, had, like a 
tornado, swept over the whole country, and which, having in- 
vaded and unsettled the prices of every species of personal 
property, seized upon the unsold public domain, which was 
transferred by millions of acres from the control of the govern- 
ment and the occupation of the settler, to the dominion of the 
speculator; although on the wane in the last months of that 
year, was still omnipotent, and exerted a marked influence upon 
many of the members of the Belmont Legislature. 

" Numerous speculators were in attendance with beautiful maps 
of prospective cities, whose future greatness was portrayed with 
all the fervor and eloquence which the excited imagination of 
their proprietors could display. Madison, Belmont, Fond du 
Lac and Cassville were the points which were more prominently 
nrged upon the consideration of the members. Hon. James 
DuAi^E Doty, afterwards a delegate in Congress, and Governor 
of the Territory, and more recently Governor of Utah, where he 
died, had resided for many years at Green Bay as additional 
Judge of Michigan Territory. His frequent journeys in dis- 
charge of his judicial duties, in the different parts of the Terri- 
tory, had rendered him familiar with its geography and topog- 
raphy, and had given him superior advantages for judging of 
the eligibility of different points, as sites for the capitol of the 
Territory and future State. Judge Doty fixed upon the isthmus 
between the Third and Fourth of the Four Lakes, and in connec- 
tion with Steveks T. Masok, the Governor of Michigan Ter- 
ritory, purchased from the government about one thousand 
acres in sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, upon the common corner of 
which the capitol now stands. Upon this tract of land a town 
plat was laid out, called Madison, and under the auspices of its 
founder became a formidable competitor for the honors and ad- 
vantages of being selected as the seat of government. Madison 
town lots in large numbers were freely distributed among mem- 
bers, their friends, and others who were supposed to possess in- 
fluence with them. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 47 

" Nearly four weeks were spent in skirmishing outside tlie 
legislative halls, when, on the 21st of November, the battle was 
formally opened in the council, and the bill considered in Com- 
mittee of the Whole until the 23d, when it was reported back 
in the form in which it became a law, fixing upon Madison as 
the seat of government, and providing that the sessions of the 
Legislative Assembly, should be held at Burlington, in Des 
Moines county, until March 4, 1839, unless the public buildings 
at Madison should be sooner completed. 

" When the bill was reported back by the committee of the 
whole, and was under consideration in the Council, where the 
ayes and noes could be called, spirited attack was made upon 
it, and motions to strike out Madison and insert some other places 
were successively made in favor of Fond du Lac, Dubuque, Portage 
Helena, Milwaukee, Racine Belmont, Mineral Point, Platteville, 
Green Bay, Cassville, Belleview, Koshkonong, Wisconsinapo- 
lis, Peru and Wisconsin City; but all with one uniform result 
— ayes 6, noes 7; and the bill was by the same vote ordered en- 
grossed, and the next day passed the Council. In the House of 
Representatives the opposition was not so formidable, and on 
the 28th, the bill was ordered to a third reading by a vote of 16 
to 10, and passed the same day, 15 to 11 — thus ending one of 
the most exciting struggles ever witnessed in the Territory of 
Wisconsin.'" 

By 'section 3 of the act establishing the seat of govern- 
ment, the sum of $20,000 was appropriated for building the 
capitol building, and three commissioners were required to be 
chosen by joint ballot ; to cause necessary public buildings to 
be erected at Madison ; to agree upon a plan of said buildings, 
and contract for their erection; one of their number to be 
treasurer, another acting commissioner to superintend the erec- 
tion of the buildings. In pursuance of this act, on the 7th of 
December, Augustus A. Bird, James Duane Doty and Johx 
F. O'Neill, were elected commissioners, and, at their first 
meeting, Mr. Bird was chosen acting commissioner and Mr. 
Doty, treasurer. The further history of the erection of the cap- 
itol building will be continued hereafter. 



48 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

On the 19th of January, 1837, the newly located seat of 
government was visited by Hon. Moses M. Strong* of Mineral 
Point; Mr. Levi R. Marsh, who afterwards lived for many 
years at Prairie du Chien, and a Mr. Potter from the east, who 
soon after returned and has not since resided in Wisconsin. 
These three gentlemen left Milwaukee on horseback on the 16th 
of January, and traveling by the way of Prairie Village (Wau- 
kesha), Bark river. Fort Atkinson and the half-breed's on the 
First Lake, they arrived at Madison in the afternoon of the 
19th. They spent the night of the 18th at the half-breed's on 
the First Lake, where they were hospitably entertained and 
feasted with the luxury of a musk-rat pie. From this place, 
following the Indian trail along the east and north bank of 
the Second Lake (Lake Waubesa), they reached the south- 
eastern bank of the Third Lake (Lake Monona), near its outlet. 
Their object being to find Madison, which as yet presented no 
indications to mark its precise locality, except the marks and 

* Hon. Moses M. Strong, son of Hon. Moses Strong and Lucy Maria 
Smith, was born at Rutland, Vermont, May 20, 1810, was educated and 
graduated at Darmouth College, in 1829, studied law at the Law School 
at Litchfield, Connecticut, under the charge of Judge Gould, in 1831. He 
practiced his profession at Rutland (1831-6). In 1833 appointed Deputy 
Surveyor General of Vermont. In 1836 he removed to Wisconsin and 
settled at Mineral Point, where he opened a law and land agency connected 
with surveying. In 1837 he was appointed to survey United States gov- 
ernment lands on the west side of the Mississippi river. From 1838 to 
1841 he was United States Attorney for the Territory of Wisconsin ; a 
Member of the Council of the Territory, 1841-2-3, and President, a Mem- 
ber 1843-4, 1844-5, a Member and President 1846; a member of the first 
constitutional convention to form a state constitution. In 1849 and again 
in 1S56 was elected a memberof House of Representatives, and was in 1850 
the Speaker of the Assembly. In 1852 he was largely interested in rail- 
road enterprises and has been President of the La Crosse and Milwaukee 
Railroad and the Mineral Point Railroad. He has also been interested in 
the improvement of water-powers on the Wisconsin river, and also in the 
developement of the lead mines in the vicinity of Mineral Point. Mr. 
Strong was married in 1832 to Caroline Francis Green, daughter of Dr. 
Green, Windsor, Vermont, and has four children. Residence Mineral 
Point. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 49 

monuments left by tlie government surveyors. Mr. Strokg had 
furnished himself with an accurate copy of the government 
plats which exhibited all the bays, capes and headlands of the 
lakes, and sitting on his horse, on an elevated point of the 
shore of the lake he had reached, he could, with his field glass, 
observe all of them within the range of his vision. Having 
fixed upon a certain bay in a narth westerly direction, and upon 
the opposite side of the Third Lake as the one where a section 
line would probably intersect the shore, the exploring party 
after, with some difficulty, getting their horses upon the 
ice, took a straight course for the selected bay, and were so 
fortunate as to hit the meander post set by the government 
surveyors about four years previously, and which marked the 
intersection with the lake of the section line between sections 
thirteen and twenty-four. Following up this section line, 
along what is now the center of King street, the party soon 
came to the corner of sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three 
and twenty-four, which is the center of the capitol park, and 
upon which the capitol stands. After remaining a short time 
and admiring the natural beauty of the site so recently made 
by law the seat of government, this exploring party undertook 
to cross the Fourth Lake on the ice in search of St. Cyr, of 
whom they had been told at the First Lake, where they spent 
the previous night, and with whom they intended to spend this 
night. By some mistake or misunderstanding, the party, 
instead of going to the west end of the lake, went to the 
extreme north end, and of course missed the log cabin of St. 
Cyr, of which they were in search, and leaving the lake at 
the north end, they took a westerly course, hoping to find the 
wagon road from Fort Winnebago to the Blue Mounds, but 
the track was so obscured by the snow that they crossed it 
without noticing it, and traveled on until night overtook them, 
when they were compelled to pass the night without food or 
shelter for themselves or horses. The next morning Mr. 
Stroi^g found a section corner, and thus learned that they had 
gone several miles out of their wa}^, and had spent the night 
on section twenty-one, town eight, range eight east, which is 



50 HIS TOE Y OF MADISON- AND THE 

now tlie Ashton postoffice, in the town of Springfield. They 
soon got the correct course and went on to the Blue Mounds, 
and thence to Mineral Point. 

During that winter Judge Doty had employed Mr. Strong, 
who was a surveyor as well as lawyer, to survey and stake off 
the capitol square and some lots in the vicinity. On the 17th 
of February, Mr. John Catlin and himself started from Min- 
eral Point to perform this work, and spent that night at the 
house of John Messersmith, Esq., about twelve miles east of 
Mineral Point, where they engaged the assistance of his son 
George Messersmith, who, five years later, was appointed 
sheriff of Iowa county by Judge Doty, then Governor of the 
Territory. Before the surveying party started they were joined 
by JosiAH A. NooNAN, Esq., who desired to have some survey- 
ing done on land in which he had an interest, west of and ad- 
joining Madison, and lying partly upon what was called the 
"Little Lake" (Lake Wingra). Mr. Noonan brought Mr. 
Strong a letter from Judge Doty, with which we have been 
furnished. 

Mr. Strong furnished us his diary kept during this survey, 
and which is as follows: 

" February 17. Bought surveying chain, shirt and gloves, 
and same day started with Mr. Catlin for Madison and staid 
at Messersmith's. Mr. J. A. Noonan joined us, bringing a 
letter from Judge Doty, and will go with us to Madison. 

" February 18. Bought at Brigham's provisions for the ex- 
cursion at $15.00, and went on to Steel's, on Haney's creek 
(this was near the Cross Plains station on Black Earth creek), 
NooNAN and George Messersmith in company. 

" February 19. Went to St. Cyr's and finished Noonan's 
work on north side of Fourth Lake, and slept at St. Cyr's. 

" February 20. Finished meanders on Fourth and Little 
Lake, and camped on Little Lake. 

" February 21. Finished Noonan's meanders on Third Lake, 
and he paid me $70 for myself and Catlin, and then com- 
menced Doty's work at Madison. 

" February 22. Continued Doty's work at Madison. Camped 



FOUB LAKE COUNT BY OF WISCONSIN. 51 

there (the camp, which was only the lee side of a large fallen 
oak tree — was on the shore of the Fourth Lake, near the foot of 
Hamilton street), and at daylight were driven off by a severe 
snow-storm, and went to St. Cye's and spent the day. 

" February 23. Remained at St. Cye's by reason of the snow 
storm. 

" February 24. Continued Doty's work at Madison, and 
camped there. 

'^ February 25. Continued Doty's work at Madison, and 
went to St. Cyr's. 

" February 26. Returned to Madison and finished all of 
Doty's work west of canal, and then went to Rowak's and 
slept, having paid St. Cyr $13.50. Rowan lived about twelve 
miles south of Fort Winnebago, where is now Poynette, on 
the Madison and Portage Railroad. " 

From Rowan's, the surveying party took the Wisconsin river 
and followed down on it to Helena, and thence by land to Min- 
eral Point. This work of surveying was the starting point of 
settlement, and was soon after followed by the erection of a log 
house by Mr. Ebenezer Peck. 

In the month of February, Alex. F. Peatt, Esq., now of 
Waukesha, in company with Augustus Stoey, started on a 
tour to the mining regions. Passing through Prairie village, 
now Waukesha, they proceeded by the way of Fort Atkinson 
and thence to the Catfish river, near the present site of Dun- 
kirk. Here they encamped, building a fire, which they kept up 
till morning, on account of the wolves, which watched them 
closely. The next morning they proceeded up the river, know- 
ing that it would lead them to the Fourth Lake, where there 
were several wigwams, and where they could obtain something 
to eat, even if it was not of the choicest kind. We quote from 
Mr. Pratt's narrative: 

'' At about noon we reached the First Lake, and seeing moc- 
casin tracks in the snow, we followed them for a short distance 
to a wigwam, but found it tenantless. After searching it from 
top to bottom, we found a few cold roasted potatoes, which, we 
assure you (after having fasted for twenty-four hours), relished 



52 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

well. We remained in this wigwam an hour or two, and then 
passed on to the point where Madison is now located. At that 
time, neither the ax, nor " the shovel and the hoe," had been 
hung up or laid down in that vicinity. It was nearly sundown 
when we crossed the Third Lake. After traveling over the first 
eminence — where the capitol now stands — we struck a ravine 
(between capitol square and the present site of the University), 
where we made a halt, struck up a fire, and encamped for the 
night, without even making any inquiry about supper. The 
cold potatoes which we ate at noon, supplied the place of 
breakfast, dinner and supper. The weather had moderated a 
little, which, together with the hardships of the journey, and 
our extreme fatigue, caused us to sleep quite comfortably dur- 
ing the night. The next morning we crossed Fourth Lake, a 
distance of about four miles, where we saw a small log cabin, 
which was the first building of the kind we had seen since leav- 
ing Fort Atkinson. We knocked at the door, but all was si- 
lent. We were both cold and hungry, and the sight of a cabin 
was some relief. We did not wait for ceremony, but bolted in, 
where we found a squaw and some four or five pappooses. We 
spoke to her in the Pottawatamie language, but she made no 
reply. We were soon satisfied that she did not understand us. 
We then made all the signs that our Indian education or inge- 
nuity would admit of, to show her that we were hungry ; but all 
in vain. We expected that her husband would soon come in 
and kick us out of doors, without waiting for an explanation, and 
were at a loss what to do. A white man,* however, soon came 
in, spoke to us in good English, and seemed glad to see us. He 
informed us that he was a Canadian, that the squaw was his 
wife, and that the children were also his. The squaw belonged 
to the Winnebago tribe, and spoke a different language from 
the other Indians in the vicinity. 

^' He had been an Indian trader there for years. The lands 
which he had cultivated had been sold without his knowledge; 
for, in fact, he took no interest in anything except trading in 
furs, etc. His wife on being made acquainted with our wants, 

* Michael St. Cyr. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 53 

flew around and prepared for us a supper. It was a kind of 
pot-pie, which we relished very well. After finishing our meal, 
we inquired what kind of meat we had eaten, and were informed 
that it was musk-rat. We remained there till morning, and 
then left for the Blue Mounds." 

The year 1837 is memorable as the beginning of the perma- 
nent settlement of Madison. The Indians who up to this 
date had nominal possession, became aware that they must 
move to other homes ; the country to be reclaimed from barba- 
rism and subdued to the wants and requirements of civilized life. 
We have before referred to the purchase of this location by 
Doty and Masok, and of its selection as the site for the seat of 
government. 

In the month of April, Ebek Peck* and h^'s wife Rose- 
line Peck came here from Blue Mounds and became the first 
settlers. Job^n Catlin", Esq., had been here before Mr. Peck, and 

* A more particular notice of the pioneer family of Madison is desirable. 
Eben Peck was born in Shoreham, Addiaon county, Vermont, in iSo4,and 
was taken to Middleburj, Genesee, now Wyoming county, New York, by 
his parents when quite a child ; and on his return to Vermont in 1827, he 
established himself in business in Middletown, Rutland county. There he 
was married, February 24, 1829, to Miss Roseline Willard, a native of Mid- 
dletown, born February 24, 1S08; the wedding taking place in the house 
in which she was born, with her parents, grandparents, and numerous 
friends and relatives present. In 1832 Mr. and Mrs. Peck moved to Mid- 
dlebury. New York, and thence, as Mrs. Peck's statement shows, in 1836, 
to Blue Mounds. 

Mr. Peck went to California and Oregon in 1844; and though since re- 
ported as in Texas or New Mexico, is supposed to have been massacred by 
savages when crossing the plains. 

Mrs. Peck's mother was Julia Ann Burnham; and her grandmother 
Burnham, (wife of John Burnham, an able lawyer of the Bennington bar), 
was a sister of Gen. Isaac Clark, of Castleton, Vt., a soldier of the Revolu- 
tion, known as Old Rifle, and who commanded a regiment in the war of 
1812, making a successful expedition against Massequoi, Lower Canada, 
October 12, 1813; was member of the Constitutional Convention, and 
Judge of the County Court; died at Castleton, January 31, 1822, aged 73. 
Gen. Clark was the grandfather of Hon. Satterlee Clark, an early pioneer 
of Wisconsin, and for many years a prominent member of the State 
Senate. 



54 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

had put up a log house on the ground now occupied by the 
United States Court House and Post Office, but it was not in 
use until after Mr. Peck's house was built and occupied. Mrs. 
Peck who is now residing at Baraboo, Wisconsin, has contri- 
buted two interesting articles on her early life experience at 
Madison, published lirst in the Baraboo Republican^ in March 
and April, 1860, which were subsequently republished with 
valuable historical notes by Dr. L. C. Draper, in Vol. 6, Col- 
lections of State Historical Society of Wisconsin. From these 
papers much desirable information has been obtained, and from 
which we have made liberal extracts. Mrs. Peck has also at 
our request furnished an additional paper. These reminiscen- 
ces throw much light on pioneer life in Madison, and will be 
read with interest. It is proper to state that the two first pap- 
ers were called out by the fact that a Mr. Geo. W. Feathers- 
TONHAUGH, an English Geologist employed by the United States 
Government, to make geological surveys in the northwest, on 
his return to England published a work entitled '^ A Canoe voy- 
age up the Minnay-sotor, with an account of the Lead and Cop- 
per Regions of Wisconsin. London, 1847. 2 Vols. 8vo." In 
this work he refers to his visit to Madison, an account of which 
will hereafter be given, and took occasion to criticise the do- 
mestic arrangements of Mrs. Peck's house. His statements in 
reference thereto, are very unjust and untrue. While at Mad- 
ison he received from that lady every attention and civility that 
any honorable man would require, but he was a fretful, con- 
ceited Englishman, and nothing pleased him or'was good enough 
for him. His criticisms on her table and accommodations, 
brought from Mrs. Peck the communications referred to. In 
quoting from them, we have taken the liberty to omit some 
portions. 

" We came direct from Genessee county. New York, via 
Buffalo, Detroit, Michigan City and Chicago, to the Blue 
Mounds, at which place we arrived, July, 1836 — our goods 
having been shipped by the way of Green Bay and the port- 
age (Fort Winnebago). The two forts or garrisons were then 
kept at those points and the Blue Mounds, being situated on 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 55 

tlie old military road from Galena, Mineral Point to the port- 
age, there was considerable travel. A postoffice was soon after 
established at Col. Brigham's place at the Mounds. We took 
possession of his house with every thing appertaining thereto 
— his large and excellent garden, a number of cows, etc., and 
boarded himself and his farming and mining hands, during 
autumn and winter, also entertaining travelers. 

" On the return of the northern members of the Belmont 
legislature to their homes, with the information that Madison 
had been selected as the location of the seat of government, 
Mr. Peck purchased some lots, and immediately sent hands 
and teams to erect three large rooms or buildings for their 
occupancy. The buildings were put up before I saw them." 

Of the buildings as erected, and her commencement of house- 
keeping, she says: 

" The men employed to erect this first house, were two French- 
men, one named Joe Pellkie, the name of the other is for- 
gotten ; they were with a party of Winnebagoes who had spent 
that winter at the largest of the Blue Mounds; and one Abra- 
ham Wood superintended the work. Wood then lived at 
Strawberry or Squaw Point — since better known as Winne- 
quah, on the eastern side of Third Lake; he had a squaw 
wife, a daughter of the Winnebago chief De Kaury. Wood 
subsequently removed to Baraboo, and erected a saw-mill 
there. During the erection of these cabins, which was in March, 
Mr. Peck made two excursions with teams to Madison, to 
carry out supplies, and give directions about the work; there 
was then snow on the ground, and the lakes were frozen, so 
that Mr. Peck crossed on the ice to Strawberry Point, to stay 
over night at Wood's. Pellkie remained in and around 
Madison for some time; at one time. Berry Haj^^ey, a noted 
character, shot Pellkie in a dispute about a land claim, and 
when last heard from, Pellkie was still carrying the ball in 
his back. The other Frenchman, the companion of Pellkie 
in building our cabins, had a squaw wife, whose brother was 
stabbed and killed on the beach of Third Lake. 

" In March, Mr. Doty and lady returned, (their residence be- 



56 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

ing at Green Bay), and put up over night with us. They found 
a decent, clean table, a thing seldom found in those days. I 
informed Mrs. Doty that we were going to settle in Madison. 
She said if I would be the first housekeeper there, I should 
have a present, and my choice of the best lot in the place; it 
was also confirmed by her husband, but, by-the-by, I never got 
it; and on the 15th of April, 1837, we arrived there, and as we 
were well aware what our business would be when settled, we 
provided ourselves accordingly, and purchased at Mineral Point 
over one hundred dollars worth of groceries, as I have the bills 
now to show; among the items were one barrel of pork, two of 
flour, one of crackers, one of sugar, half barrel dried fruit one 
box of tea, and as good a sack of cofi'ee as was ever brought into 
the State, besides a half barrel of pickles, put up by myself, 
also a tub of butter, and jars of plums and cranberries, collected 
from Blue Mounds' thickets. All these were carried to Madi- 
son when we moved, besides a good load of potatoes. I also 
made six more bed-ticks, to be filled with grass or hay as occas- 
ion required, as we fetched but four feather beds with us. 

" We started from Beigham's place, at the Blue Mounds, on 
Thursday, the 13th of April, after dinner, with our teams, I 
riding an Indian pony. We traveled about seven miles, where 
some person had made a claim, and had laid about five rounds 
of logs towards a cabin. We camped therein that night with a 
tent over us. The next day, the 14th, we pushed on — a more 
pleasant day I never wish to see ; but I had a severe headache 
before night. We pitched our tent on a little rise of ground, 
within three miles of Madison; spread down our beds, and rest- 
ed comfortably, till near 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, when 
'we were awakened by a tremendous wind storm, and howling 
of wolves, and found snow five or six inches deep which contin- 
ued to fall until after we arrived in Madison. 

'• Well, now, here we are at Madison, on the 15th, sitting in 
a wagon under a tree, with a bed-quilt thrown over my own 
and little boy's heads, in a tremendous storm of snow and sleet, 
twenty-five miles from any inhabitants on one side (Blue 
Mounds), and nearly one hundred on the other (Milwaukee). 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 57 

What is to be done ? Go into the buildings with no floors 
laid, and nothing but great sleepers laid across to walk on? 
No; I must have the buildings plastered with lime, and floors 
laid first — only one saw-mill in the Territory, and that, way 
up in the Wisconsin Pinery, and not completed, and of course 
no lumber; but there lies a pile of puncheons — just build 
me a pen under this tree, and move in my stove, and we will 
crawl in there. Sure enough, we soon had it completed, and 
a fire built.* 

" Some two weeks from this time, or about the first of May, on 
a pleasant day, there were about fifteen men arrived from Mil- 
waukee, to look a road through, and see Madison. Among the 
number were A. A. Bird, the two Pixleys, merchants, W. M. 
Dekkis, and Col. Morton", of the Land Ofiice — but I cannot 
enumerate names. Well, we had a spacious dining-room — 
under the broad canopy of heaven — where I spread tables for 
them. A portion of the party, the hired men, set out on their 
return the next day. We immediately sent a team to the other 
side of Fourth Lake, where there had been some hay put up 
by a party of half-breed French and Indians, and got a load of 
it, with which we filled our bed-ticks; we then laid down 
puncheons in one end of one of the buildings, spread down 
our beds, built a fire of chips (hewn from the logs) at the other 
end between the sleepers, tacked three or four sheets of bed- 
curtains around the walls, and there they rested; and they staid 
with us three or four days, enjoying themselves hunting and 
^shing around the lakes, and looking at the country; and then 
left for Mineral Point, or perhaps Galena; and in eight or ten 
days Bird returned, accompanied by Judge Doty, Eben'ezer 
Brigham and others. 

" Judge Doty observed, ' W^hy do you not move into your 
house?' 'Why, my dear sir,' I replied, 'I must have it 
plastered with lime first.' Said he, ' we do not know as there 
is a lime quarry within a hundred miles of you, and you need 

* Henry G. Abbot, Esq., of Utica, N. Y., informed the writer that he, 
with a friend, staid one night with Mr. and Mrs. Peck in the latter part of 
A-pril, 1837, — before Mr. Bird's first visit. 
5 



58 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

not expect to live in tins pen until there is one found and 
burned. No, no, you must move in; we will lielp daub up the 
kitchen part on the outside with mud, and when the lime is 
found 3^ou can finish the inside to suit you.' So at it they 
went, (only think, Governors, Esquires and Mayors, in pros- 
pective, daubing cabins !) and by night we were all comfortably 
situated in the kitchen. And this is the room in which, a 
week subsequently, the great Scotch-born and English-bred 
Featherstokhaugh was entertained." 

" The size of this room was twenty-four feet long and eight- 
een or twenty wide — the same length of the dining-room, and 
situated immediately back of it, — wherein they used to dance 
cotillions, three sets at the same time. The other two build- 
ings were joined on the northeast and southeast corners of the 
kitchen, leaving a passage, where afterwards was erected a 
frame dining-room, in which many a weary traveler and hun- 
gry wight was fed." 

The next person after Mr. and Mrs. Peck, who came to 
Madison, and has given an account of his journey and experi- 
ences, was G. W. Featherstoi^haugh, recently referred to. In 
coming from St. Louis in this direction, he heard much of Ty- 
cJio-be-rah^ or the Four Lakes, and elaborately engraved plans 
of several cities in their vicinity were shown him. He was as- 
sured that they were flourishing finely — Madison in particular 
was represented as already a city. Let us now cite his graphic 
description of Madison and its first house, which he gives as 
follows, under date May 30, 1837 — passing from Dodgeville to 
Col. E. Brigham's, at the Blue Mounds, to dinner: 

" Pursuing our journey at 1 P. M., we passed the military 
road leading to Fort Winnebago and Navarino (Green Bay), 
and soon afterwards got into one of the most exquisitely beau- 
tiful regions I have ever seen in any part of the world. The 
prairie that had hitherto been distinguished by a regular roll- 
ing surface, here changed its character and took the form of 
ridges, somewhat elevated, which frequently resolved themselves 
into masses of gracefully rounded hills, separated by gentle de- 
pressions, that occasionally became deepened valleys. In these, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 59 

some of the lieads of a stream called Sugar river, a tributary 
of Rock river, took their rise. * * * 

"The aspect of this lovely country at once accounted for so 
great a population flocking to the lakes, on whose enchanting 
banks those cities were founded of which we had heard so 
much, and to which we were now advancing. Four noble 
lakes, in the center of a region of such unrivalled beauty, must 
constitute perfection itself. Our expectations Avere exceedingly 
raised. Every movement produced a new excitement: the oc- 
casional glimpse of the shy deer, with their elegant fawns, and 
the more frequent flushing of the prairie-hen from her nest, 
gave animation to the still beauty around us. Enraptured with 
all I saw, I could not but occasionally reflect on the oddity of 
seven large cities, each capable of containing a population of 
half a million of people, have congregated so close together. 
There was Madison City^ which was the metropolis; adjacent 
to this was the City of the Four Lakes ^ a short distance beyond 
this was the city of North Madison. Close upon this again 
was the city of East Madison. Then there was the city of West 
Madison^"^ the city of Sotith Madison, and the City of the First 
Lake., and the '' City of the Second Lake.^^ f C)f each of these 
I had a beautiful engraved plan, with all its squares, streets, in- 
stitutions and temples." 

In the vicinity of Madison he found some ver}^ interesting 
mounds and other interesting Indian monuments, which he de- 
scribes, and continues: 

^' We hastened on, as the day was drawiiig to a close, and we 
had yet some distance to go to Madison City. For some time 
I had kept a good look-out for some of the enterprising farmers, 
who must have come from great distances to this fertile coun- 
try, and was rather surprised that we should liithei*to have met 

* The " City of West Madison" was platted and recorded June 23, 1837. 
The proprietors were, Steptoe Catlin, Wm. Glennj and Timothy Johnson. 

t " The City of the Second Lake " was owned by J. P. Arndt, J. W. 
Colton, B. W. and E. W. Edgerton, S. Juneau, F. W. Hawley, E. G. Bry- 
ant, E. Starr and S. W. Beardsley. The plat of the city was recorded 
October 11, 1836. 



60 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

no one. We had not passed a single farm, and concluded that, 
being an Indian country, the settlers had clustered round the 
great city we were bound to, and had established themselves 
near that lake where the best fish abounded. Fresh fish! pro- 
digious varieties! cat-fish, pike, pickerel, salmon, trout, buffalo, 
perch! What anticipations for men who had for so many days 
been bolting pieces of tough fat bacon, cured 1,000 miles off. 
At length we came to a belt of open trees, and, passing through 
it, we reached the flat, marshy shores of the largest of the four 
lakes; we could see almost entirely around it, and much did we 
look; but, alas! no vestige of human dwelling was in sight. 

" This considerably changed the current of our thoughts, 
and materially impaired the beauty of the prospect. Not being 
disposed to express all we felt, we reluctantly took to the woods 
again, along the margin of the lake, in the hope to stumble 
upon some one or other. Night was gradually drawing her 
veil over everything, and it became rather doubtful whether we 
should not have — in the language of backwoodsmen — to 
camp out. Keeping, therefore, all my visions of fried fish in 
the background for a while, I felt for my box of matches, and, 
finding it safe, turned my attention — as old Indian travelers 
always do — to the next best thing, a rousing fire to lay down 
by. Black clouds were forming in the horizon ; we had been 
drenched thoroughly the day before, and it became pretty cer- 
tain there would be another storm. Groping our way, and oc- 
casionally jolting over the fallen trees, we, at the end of an 
hour and a half, got to the shore of the Third Lake, having 
somehow or other missed the Second Lake, where Madison City 
was supposed to be. We now changed our course again, and 
keeping to the northwest, and meandering, and wondering and 
shouting for ni}'- companion, who had got out of the wagon to 
follow a small trail he thought he had discovered, I at length 
gave up the attempt to proceed any further, and, selecting a 
dry tree as a proper place to bivouac near, had already stopped 
the wagon, when, hearing my companion's voice shouting for 
me in a tone that augured something new to be in the wind, I 
pushed on in that direction, and at length found him standing 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 61 

at the door of a hastily patched up log hut, consisting of one 
room about twelve feet square. 

This was Madison City, and, humble as it was, it concen- 
trated within itself all the urban importance of the seven cities 
we had come so far to admire, and to which, according to our 
engraved plans, Ninevah of old, Thebes, with its hundred gates, 
and Persepolis, were but baby-houses. Not another dwelling 
was there in the whole country, and this wretched contrivance 
had only been put up within the last four weeks. Having se- 
cured our horses, we entered the grand and principal entrance 
to the city, against the top of which my head got a severe 
blow, it not being more than five feet high from the ground. 
The room was lumbered up with barrels, boxes and all manner 
of things. Amongst other things was a bustling little woman, 
about as high as the door, with an astounding high cap on, 
called Mrs. Peck. * =^ * 

" My first inquiry was, whether she had any fresh fish in the 
house. The answer was 'No!' Inflexible and unwelcome 
word. No fresh fish! no large, delicious catfish, of twenty 
pounds weight, to be fried with pork and placed before the vo- 
racious traveler in quantities sufiicient to calm those apprehen- 
sions that so often arise in Indian lands, of there not being 
enough for him to eat until he falls fast asleep. ' Why, then,' 
exclaimed my alarmed companion, 'what's to be done?' 'I 
have some salt pork,' rejoined our little hostess. ' Then, madam, 
you must fry it without the fish,' I replied. Soto the old busi- 
ness we went, of bolting square pieces of fat pork, an amuse- 
ment I had so often indulged in, that I sometimes felt as if I 
ought to be ashamed to look a live pig in the face. Our land- 
lady, however, was a very active and obliging person ; she said 
she would make us as comfortable as it was possible for her 
to do. 

" Whilst we were at this repast, the thunder storm broke over 
us, and a deluge of rain came down, streaming through the roof 
in various places. In the midst of the confusion two other 
vagabonds came in ; one of them a rufiian looking fellow, who 
said he was a miner, on his way across the Indian countr}^ from 



62 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

Milwaukee; the otlier, a stupid, boorish, dirty-looking animal, 
said he had not tasted anything for two days, having lost his 
way on the prairie; and, having been overtaken the preceding 
night by a very heavy rain, whilst making his way up a coulee 
or vale, had been afraid to lie on the ground, and had passed 
the whole night sitting on a fallen tree. Fortunately there was 
pork enough for us all." 

On the tenth day of June, 1837, Augustus A. Bird, the 
acting commissioner for constructing the capitol, accompanied by 
a party of thirty-six workmen, arrived. There was no road at 
that time from Milwaukee to the capital, and the party were 
compelled to make one for their teams and wagons as they came 
along. They left Milwaukee on the first of June with four 
teams. It rained incessantly, the ground drenched with water, 
and was so soft that even with an ordinary road their progress 
would have been slow, but when to this are added the obstruc- 
tions of fallen trees, unbridged streams, hills, whose steepness 
labor had not yet mitigated, and the devious course which they 
necessarily pursued, it is not surprising that ten days Avere 
spent in accomplishing a journey, which, since the advent of 
the railroad through the Four Lake country, we are able toper- 
form in a little more than three hours. They forded Rock 
river near the site of the present city of Watertown, and the 
Crawfish at Milford. The first glimpse they had of the sun, 
during their journey, was on the prairie, in this county, now 
known as Sun Prairie — a name given it at that time as a com- 
pliment to the luminary which beamed forth so auspiciously 
and cheerfully on that occasion, and possibly to encourage old 
Sol to persevere in well doing. 

Mr. William Woolcock, now of JeflPerson, Wisconsin, was 
one Avho came to Madison to work on the capitol in the second 
arrival. He has furnished some notes of his coming to Wis- 
consin, and his journey here, from which the following extracts 
are taken: 

'' I left Adelaide, Canada West, in May, 1836, to visit the 
western territories, and came by the way of BuflPalo, Detroit 
and Chicago. At Chicago I found one brick building, the Lake 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 63 

House, and thence proceeded to Milwaukee, where I arrived 
July 3, which contained one framed house, built in 1835 by 
SoLOMOK Juneau. After spending a short time here I made 
an arrangement to visit Madison to work at my trade on the 
capitol building. 

'' About the last of July or first of August, 1837, we started 
for Madison from Milwaukee, to cut the stone for the State 
House, viz. : Wm. Seayiee and brother, Jesse Bolden and G. 
EGGLESTOif, with our carpet bags and some tools on our shoul- 
ders, and commenced our journey in the morning on foot. Before 
we came to Prairieville we saw a large rattlesnake across our 
path, about six feet long, which we killed. At Prairieville we 
found one log house and an Indian camping ground. About 
five miles further we found a man by the name of Pratt, who 
had a claim of 160 acres, and who had put up a log house, and 
here we staid over night. The next day dined with a family 
by the name of Brown, who had also a claim of a quarter sec- 
tion. Within seven or eight miles of the rapids of Rock river, 
near Watertown, we found three brothers by the name of 
Setchell, making claims, with whom we staid over night. 
They had a little shanty built and covered with bass wood 
bark, and as there was not room for all of us, Mr. Seayier and 
myself got some long pieces of bark that was coiled up in the 
sun, pulling the bark open and got into it; it curled tight 
around us, and so we got clear of the musquitoes that 
night. The next morning we started for Watertown, where 
we found Mr. Goodhue preparing to buid a dam and a sawmill. 
Here we took breakfast and started for Lake Mills, at which 
place we found a family by the name of Atwood, who had also 
made a claim on some land, and built a log house. Here we 
stopped one day to rest and to prepare for the forty mile trip 
to Madison, as there was no settler this side of that place. We 
proceeded onward on the Indian s and Bird's trail, and came to 
Sun Prairie where we got a lunch and some water and started 
on. At ten o'clock at night we came to the camping ground 
of Bird and his company at Madison, tired, dry and hungry. 
There was about fifty (?) men and a family to cook for 



64 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

them. They expected us and were glad to see us, but they had 
eaten all the provisions they brought with them from Mil- 
waukee, and Mr. Bird had gone to Galena with the teams after 
pork and flour and other supplies. We slept at the building 
known as the bedroom, about eighteen feet square and two 
stories high and the sleeping births were all around the sides, 
two or three, one above the other, and the bedsteads were 
made out of small oak trees and covered with marsh hay. I 
thought it a great treat after walking forty miles, and the 
musquitoes so thick that the men made a fire on the floor to 
smoke them out. Work was immediately commenced, and 
carried on during the summer and fall, at which time the walls 
were built six feet above the ground and the water table put 
in place. I cut the corner stone and Jesse Bolden laid it. 
There was a gathering on the event. A good many persons put 
in their deposits under it. It was laid on the southeast corner 
of the building, July 4, 1838. The foundation was completed 
in November and a small celebration was held, when the 
work was Stopped. The money to pay the hands had to be 
brought from Green Bay, and Mr. Peck was sent there to bring 
it. The men usually were paid monthly. He started on foot 
through the woods alone to Green Bay. In less than two 
weeks he came back with the paper money. He had to swim 
the rivers. The money was wet and we had to wait for it to 
dry before we could get our pay. About the last of November 
we started on foot for Milwaukee. In May, 1838, Jesse Bolder 
and myself went to Madison to finish the work, and the con- 
tract to put up the buiding was in the hands of James Mor- 
Risoi^ and A. A. Bird, Superintendent. Mr. Bolden" could 
not agree with Mr. Morrison, and returned to Milwaukee. I 
worked all summer at $70 per month — cut the stone arches over 
the front doors and attended the building generally. The rest 
of the stone cutters worked by the foot. In November the 
walls were up, the roof on and the assembly and senate cham- 
bers plastered but not sufficiently dry for the sessions of he 
legislature, which were held for a while in the American Hotel 
building." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 65 

Of the party that came with Mr. Bird, we shall speak more 
particularly hereafter. 

The workmen on their arrival, immediately proceeded to erect 
temporary houses and cabins for their own use, the most of 
which were put up near the foot of King street, near the Third 
Lake. The buildings were not of the highest order of archi- 
tecture, since little or no lumber could be procured except 
such as was cut with a whip-saw. They have all been re- 
moved, except one which was taken to another location. The 
excavation for the foundation walls of the capitol was soon 
made, and the workmen proceeded at once to get out stone and 
timber. It was intended, says Judge J. G. Ki^app, " to have the 
building erected on the corners of the four sections, or the exact 
centre of the public square, but as the post of the section cor- 
ners was found standing on the west edge of the level of the 
square, or where the ground begins to descend to the west, the 
ground for the foundation was so staked off that the corner 
should be under the west door, and not in the centre of the 
building. Moreover, the west wall was not placed on the sec- 
tion lines; consequently both these causes operated to throw 
the walls away from a coincidence with all the steeets of the 
village." This divergence became more apparent in the new 
and enlarged capitol than in the old; since its location it has 
been governed by the same lines. 

The work had so far advanced that preparations were made 
to lay the corner stone with appropriate ceremonies on the en- 
suing July 4. Mrs. Peck made large preparation for the occas- 
ion, and oh that day, according to her account, between two and 
three hundred persons were assembled.* Among them were 
Gov. Doty, M. L. Martin", A. Nichols, Benj. Salter, Dr. Ils- 
LEY and JoH]^ Messersmith. The corner stone — in the ' ' north- 
east corner," of course — was laid, says Mr. Hyer, by Col. A. A. 
Bird, acting commissioner, on the 4th of July, 1837, and the 
ceremony formed on that day the principal part of the " nation- 

* Mr. Mills and Mr. Catlin think Mrs. Peck is in error as to the number 
present — that there could not have been as large a gathering as she has 
represented. 



66 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

al clebration" — the participants in tlie proceedings being Col. 
Bird, tlie men in his employ, Mr. E. Peck and family, and 
"Little Daj^dy," an Indian chief, and his band — the " na- 
tives " forming by far the larger party. The celebration was 
quite a '^spirited" affair, and lasted several days, until the 
" spirits" gave out. 

Mrs. Peck's narrative has an interesting account of the cele- 
bration and the preparation made for it: 

" Our next large arrival at Madison was A. A. Bird again, 
with some thirty or forty men, hired in Milwaukee, to com- 
mence operations on the public buildings; he also brought with 
him a family by the name of Pierce, * with two or three grown 
up daughters, for the purpose of cooking for his workmen. 
Thej^ immediately put up a log boarding-house, and in a week's 
time they had it completed and moved in. Their next work 
was putting up and enclosing a frame dining-room for us, in 
the above mentioned passage way, the same height and in range 
of two of the other buildings, so as to make convenient lodg- 

*Josiah Pierce, the eai-ly settler here mentioned, was born in New 
Salem, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, May 21, 1783, and was devoted 
to agricultural pursuits; in 1827 moved with his family from his na- 
tive state to Butternuts, Otsego county, N. Y.; and in the spring of 
1837, he migrated with his wife and seven children to Wisconsin. He 
was engaged by Col. Bird to remove from Milwaukee to Madison, 
to board some of his workmen on the capitol; and Mr. Pierce and 
family came with Col. Bird's party of thirty-six workmen, and ar- 
rived at Madison, June 10, 1837, after a ten days' journey, with four 
teams, loaded with provisions, tools, and such other articles as would 
be most needed, and had to cut out roads, build long " corduroy" over 
swamps, and ford creeks and rivers. Mr. Pierce's cabin was located 
at or very near the present residence of William Pyncheon, on the south 
side of Butler street, a little east of Peck's primitive residence; the latter 
was on lot 6, in block 107, on the south side of Butler street. 

Mr. Pierce's was the second family that settled in Madison; but his 
was only designed for a temporary residence, intending to find a good 
locality, and settle on a new farm. In November of that year, he re- 
moved two miles south of the present village of Monticello, Green county, 
and made a good location; his nearest neighbors resided in Exeter, seven 
miles distant. He was an invalid when he settled there; but his health 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 67 

ing rooms above. Then comes Judge Doty again, and says, 
"Madam, prepare yourself for company on the Fourth, as a 
large number from Milwaukee, Mineral Point, Fort Winneba- 
go and Galena have concluded to meet here for the purpose of 
viewing the place and celebrating the day." " Whj^, what 
shall I do?" said I, "here is my husband and brother, both 
blind with inflammation in their eyes, so that I have to feed 
them, and no lumber either to lay the upper or dining-room 
floor." " Just constitute me your agent," he replied, " and I 
will contract for whatever you want; and there is a crib of 
lumber just run down the Wisconsin river and lying at Helena, 
from Whit:n"ey's Mill," the first and then the only saw-mill in 
the Territory. He went and contracted for the lumber at six- 
ty-nine dollars a thousand, (I have still some articles of furni- 
ture manufactured from that first lumber, and I prize them as 
others would relics from Mount Vernon or the Charter Oak); 
he also contracted for a load of crockery and table fixtures, pro- 
visions, wines, liquors, pickles, preserves, more bed-ticking, bed- 
ding, and finally everything that I sent for at Mineral Point, 
and ordered teams to convey them to Madison. 

" On the second day of July there was a drove of cattle from 
Illinois driven through Madison to Green Bay, out of which we 
purchased beeves and veal. On the same day, my husband was 
led out blind and put into the stage, with his eyes carefully ex- 
cluded from the light, and sent to Fort Winnebago, for the pur- 
pose of having his eyes operated upon by the surgeon of the 
garrison, and endeavor to get a quiet, dark room, away from 
confusion — pshaw, talk about the time that tried men's souls, 

improved, and he was able to attend to business for several years. He 
finally died of consumption, December 25, 1843, aged nearly sixty-one 
years. He had no enemies, and was highlv esteemed by all who knew 
him. His widow, Ruth Pierce, a native of Granby, Connecticut, survived 
till June 8, 1867, when she passed away, at the good old age of sevent}^- 
nine years. She lived to see her famih^ all settled in Hfe, prosperous and 
respected, and she never regretted her early migration to the Western 
wilderness. Her son, Hon. Albert H, Pierce, has twice represented the 
Monticello district in the Legislature, in 1859 and 186S. 



68 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

just as if a woman liacl none — but tlie recruits had just arrived 
there from Green Bay, and more confusion than at home, so 
next day he returned. On the morning of the third our " gim- 
cracks " had all arrived except the lumber, and that made its ap- 
pearance about seven • o'clock in the evening. That night our 
chamber floors were laid, except over the dining room. We had 
previously purchased three hundred pounds of feathers of Mr. 
Rasdall, an Indian trader, so our pillows were all ready and 
our beds were all spread by daylight on the morning of the 
Fourth, and by one o'clock our dining-room floor was laid, our 
dining-table built and dinner set, and between that hour and 
sundown some two or three hundred persons bolted something 
besides pork. In the evening there was a basket of champagne 
carried into the dining-room, and there their toasts were deliv- 
ered, songs sung, dinner bell jingled between times, and good 
feeling, friendship and hilarity prevailed generally; and next 
morning they shot my two little pet crows." 

.Mr. Bird, in his examination before the Territorial Legisla- 
tive Committee, February 15, 1839, states that at the first meet- 
ing of the Capitol commissioners, they adopted a plan* of the 
building estimated to cost from 140,000 to 145,000. They did 
not advertise for proposals for the erection of said building, 
agreeably to the provisions of the act hj which they were ap- 
pointed, because they were of the opinion that it could be built 
much cheaper than any one would be willing to contract to do 
it — thej^ therefore, in the exercise of their discretionary pow- 
ers, concluded to commence and continue the work until they 
were able to ascertain how it could be done with the least ex- 
pense and best advantage to the Territory. The construction 
of the work was continued by him until the month of Septem- 
ber following, when notices for proposals were issued for the 
first time, and a number of bids were presented. None of them 
were accepted, and the work was continued as heretofore 
until April 25, 1838. 

On the 20th of February, 1838, the commissioners advertised 
that they would receive proposals for the erection of the public 
buildings. The following is a copy of the same : 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 69 

" To commence on top of the water-table — to be built of 
stone of the following dimensions: one hundred and four feet 
long, and fifty-four feet wide ; the walls to be thirty feet high above 
water-table, first story thirteen feet between joints, second story 
sixteen feet between joints, floor timbers one foot deep, a pro- 
jection on both sides of said edifice of four inches thirty feet 
long, which is the length of piazza, same all cut stone to the 
top of said wall; the remainder of said walls to be cut on all 
the corners of the edifice, and the corners of the doors and 
windows and caps, and sills of the same. First story walls two 
feet six inches thick, second story walls two feet thick; to be 
two front doors going into the centre of edifice, to be forty-six 
windows, 20 lights 11 by 16 inch glass each window; roof to be 
square with a balustrade rail all round, said roof with a dome in 
centre, twenty-six feet in diameter lighted with glass on top, re- 
mainder of dome covered with tin above its base. 

'' Roof covered with pine shingles three eighths of an inch 
thick; a lightning rod put on immediately after roof is fin- 
ished; two chimney pieces carried up in the walls, with two fire 
places in each chimney with cut stone jams, two flues carried up in 
walls with tops equal to the chimney tops with necessary pipe 
tubes; to be four tin conductors with suitable heads and neces- 
sary gutters made of tin or sheet lead to convey the water into 
conductors. 

'' To be a piazza on each front of said edifice twelve feet pro- 
jection, thirty feet long, placed on stone hutments settled five 
feet below the surface of the ground and raised on a level with 
the basement story, which is five feet above the surface; floor 
of piazza to be of oak, two inches thick, matched; to be steps the 
whole length of piazza and railing on the en'ds with heavy ban- 
nisters; piazza roof to break in with the roof and cornice of 
main building; the cornice to be executed in the Grecian Doric 
order; piazza roof to be supported on four columns to each pi- 
azza suitable size, same order of cornice. 

" First floor to have a hall twentj^-four feet through cen- 
tre of edifice, and one room on each side of hall, partitions 
to be ten inches thick, to be two doors in each partition; 



10 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

to be a flight of stairs on eacli side of hall to ascend to sec- 
ond story, floor to be laid with oak one and a half inches thick, 
lined and matched; hall to be plastered three coat work 
with cornice overhead. Second floor, to be laid with oak one 
and a half inches thick, matched, to be divided as follows: 
to be a hall through centre twenty-four feet wide, to be left 
open twenty-four feet square in centre for the reception of the 
stairs and the light from the top of dome to lower floor, dome 
to be flnished open overhead through to light in top, with 
proper cornice and plastering; on one side of main hall to be a 
hall seven feet wide the whole width of said edifice; one room 
for council chamber thirty feet square with gallery on one side 
seven feet wide circular supported on two columns with seats 
elevated, and stairs to ascend into gallery, under gallery to be a 
railing on line with columns or breastworks; to be one room 
thirty by twenty feet on the other side of hall ; to be hall twen- 
ty-eight feet long, ten feet wide, and a representative chamber 
forty by thirty-eight feet, finished same as council chamber; the 
plastering on this floor to be three coat work, the rooms to be 
all corniced; the council and representative chambers to be fin- 
ished with an elipsis spring in the corner over head so as to form a 
pannel of the level part of ceiling; to be twelve inside doors, 
all of which are to be made of pine two inches thick in modern 
style, the two outside doors to be double, three inches thick, fin- 
ished with Qgg and dart moulding, and suitable fastenings and 
hangings as directed by the acting commissioner; all the doors 
to be cased with pilasters ; all the windows to be cased with pil- 
asters, with pannel jams and backs, to the floor; to be counter 
check sash, hung with weights, glass of best quality; all the 
wood work except shingles and floor to be painted outside and 
in, three coats as directed by the acting commissioner. * * 
Said edifice to be completed according to said plan and specifi- 
cation, in every particular, by the 20th of September, 1839. 
The outside of said edifice and the rooms on the first floor to 
be completed by the 15th day of October next. 

" J. D. Doty, Johk F. O'Neil, A. A. Bird, Commissioners. 

"February 20, 1838." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 71 

In reply to the proposals for said work, bids were received 
ranging from 124,450 to 1125,000, and the contract was award- 
ed to Jas. Morrisok for $26,200, April 17, 1838. By an act of 
Congress, approved June 18, 1838, the further sum of $20,000 
was appropriated for finishing the work. 

At the session of the Legislature, in 1839, a joint convention 
of the two houses was held on March 8, and N. C. Peentiss, 
Jas. L. Thayer and L. H. Cottojs" were duly chosen Commis- 
sioners of Public Buildings to succeed those in office. The 
work on the capitol was continued by Mr. MoRRisoiN", until 
April, 1841, at which time the work was unfinished. Mr. 
Prektiss, as Building Commissioner, for and on the part of 
the Territory of Wisconsin, entered into a written contract 
with Daniel Baxter, by the terms of which he was required 
to finish the work as specified in said contract, for the sum of 
$7,000, to be completed on or before December 1, 1845. It is 
not necessary to give further details of the history of the erec- 
tion of the capitol building. Much contention arose between 
the first Board of Commissioners and their successors, as well 
as the contractors Messrs. MoRRisoi^ and Baxter and the Ter- 
ritorial Legislatures. Mr. Baxter died a few years since, leav- 
ing an unsettled claim against the State for alleged damages. 

Hon. M. M. Strong, in his address, says: "The history of 
the early measures taken to secure the erection of a building 
in which to hold the sessions of the Territorial Legislature, 
is a history of peculation with the appropriations made for 
that purpose, as disgraceful to those concerned in it, as it 
was destructive of the manifest intentions of Congress. These 
appropriations amounted to $40,000. The Commissioners 
elected in 1836, Messrs. Doty, O'Neill and Bird, received 
this large sum of money, and according to the report of the 
joint committee, made to the Legislative Assembly on the 3d 
of Januar}^ 1840, they had expended less than half that sum 
upon the public buildings. They entered into a secret partner- 
ship with the contractor in merchandize and other outside 
speculations, and, in the language of the report, 'had done 
little more than erect a shell of a capitol, which is scarcely 



72 HISTORY OF MADISON AjSD THE 

capable of sustaining its own weight, and which, unless it 
is speedily secured by extensive repairs, must become a heap of 
ruins/ All steps were taken which could be to recover by 
law from the first Board of Commissioners and from the con- 
tractor, the funds which they had misapplied, and, after several 
years of litigation, the suits were settled by authority of a sub- 
sequent Legislature." 

To the first building erected by Ebek Peck, reference has 
heretofore been made, and Mrs. Peck has given an account of 
its internal arrangements. The buildings were of logs, and put 
up on block 107, and was for about a year the only public house 
in Madison. After Mr. Peck vacated it, he was succeeded by 
Robert L. Ream in the spring of 1838, and the building was 
knoAvn as the Madison House. In it Miss Yikkie Ream, the 
artist, was born. The building was demolished in 1857. It 
had a notable history the twenty years of its existence. 

The American Hotel was erected by Jas. MoRRisoi^r and A. 
A. Bird, on the corner of Pinckney street and Washington 
avenue, and was built in 1838. Mr. Levi P. Drake, late City 
Surveyor, was a workman on it. It was kept by Fake & CoT- 
TOK, 1838-41, by James MoRRisoi^, with numerous successive 
landlords. The avenue wing of the building was originally a 
store located on King street, and moved thence. The Pinck- 
ney street, or northwest wing was added about 1851. The 
building was destroyed by fire September 5, 1868. The ground 
upon which it was located was for a number of years in litiga- 
tion. It was sold a few years since, and the beautiful building 
known as the Park Savings Bank erected. Few buildings in 
Madison were as well known as the " Old American." 

The following private history of the '' Madison Hotel," an- 
other of the early public houses, has been handed us: 

'' In the winter and spring of 1838, the '' Madison Hotel " 
was built, and kept the first year by Charles H. Bird, now of 
Sun Prairie. The original building was a small, unpretending 
structure, to which additions were continually made until it 
covered considerable ground. On the first of June, 1838, the 
first session of the Territorial Supreme Court met and organ- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 73 

ized in the House, Hon. Chas. Dunn^ of La Fayette county, 
Cliief Justice. In December of the same year, the Territorial 
Legislature convened, and the now venerable Gov. Dodge and 
the leading members of that body took rooms at the Madison 
Hotel. Chas. H. Bird was succeeded by W. W. Wyman, late of 
Nebraska Territory, and after him A. A. Bird, the proprietor, 
took the hotel and kept it about four years. During this 
period of time, powerful efforts were made, at each session of 
the Legislature, to remove the capital from Madison, and it 
was at this hotel the friends of Madison made their head- 
quarters, Bird standing the expense of looking after the waver- 
ing members, and chief in concocting schemes to defeat the 
removal. Any friend of Madison from abroad, could obtain 
from Bird board, champagne, and his last cent or unlimited 
credit, and his only hope of remuneration was to exhaust the 
resources of the enemy and ruin his credit. 

'^ Bird was succeeded by Jesse A. Clark, now deceased, who 
purchased the property, and after keeping the house a short 
time, leased it to a Mr. Quiyey, who built an addition; and 
again, after him, his lessor, Clark, kept the house until the 
31st of December, 1845, when he sold to Chester Bushnell, 
late of Minnesota, and Wm. Welch, of this city. Bushj^^ell 
sold to J. D. Welch, who, with his brother, kept the house 
some time, when W. Welch leased his interest to H. W. 
Yager, now deceased. Soon after P. H. Va^^ Bergen pur- 
chased J. D. Welch's interest, and with the other Welch 
kept the house until 1848, when it was leased for one year to 
Chas. Weed, now deceased, and he was succeeded by Wm. 
Vai^" Bergen", also now deceased, the brother of P. H.Vak Ber- 
gen-. Van Bergen kept the house until 1849, when P. H. 
again took the property, and finally, in 1853, in October, pur- 
chased the half interest of W. Welch and became sole pro- 
prietor. He soon after sold to B. P. Perry, and since that 
time it has been occupied by numerous tenants. A gentleman 
by the name of Slater changed the name of the hotel to that 
of his own; and then, again, it was occupied by a gentleman 

of the name of-OsBORN, who gave his own cognomen to the 
6 



7i HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

establishment. But the old building finally went down as the 
" Madison Hotel," and by that name it will ever be known in 
the history of Madison. At 12 o'clock, March, 17, 1863, the 
Madison Hotel was the oldest building standing in the city of 
Madison. Peace to its ashes." 

Reference has been made to the party that accompanied Mr. 
BiED to commence work on the capitol. The following are 
the names of those known to have been of the party: Josiah 
PiEKCE and family of five persons, engaged to keep a boarding 
house for the workmen, Darwik Clark,* employed May 30, 
1837, to April 20, 1838, David Hyer, Thomas Jackson, 
Dayid Williams, E. Hewitt, Giles Briggs, Hen^ry Gage, 
J. W. Corning, William and John Symonds, D. Mumford, 
James Tinline, Gilbert and Delos Bundy, Rich'd Rock- 
wood, Isaac H. Palmer, Chas. H. Bird, Prosper B. Bird, 
E. H. Nelson, Geo. W. Eastman, H. W. Thornton, Horace 
and Wm. Lawrence, Wm. Terril, Jeff. Holmes, C. P. Peasely, 

Jeff. Kinney, and Leland. Other workmen subsequently 

came and a large part of the original number removed to the 
country or returned east. Among those who came in the 
second arrival were, Henry Rowe, M. Eggleston, R. F. Ris- 
ing, Hathaway, R. Penoyer, J. S. Merrill, Edmund C. 

Maxwell, Owen Murray, Caleb Merrill, Cyrus Clark, 

* Darwin Clark was born at Otego, Otsego county, New York, Maj 12, 
1812, and learned the business of cabinet maker. He left his home in April, 
1837, with four friends to find a residence in the west, viz : Delos Bundj, 
Gilbert Bundy, Richard Rockwood and Hiram Sleeper. At Buffalo took 
the steamer DeWitt Clinton for Detroit, w^here the party met, having 
been divided on their waj, and proceeded on foot to St. Josephs, Michi- 
gan, their baggage having been sent on by steamer. They crossed Lake 
Michigan to Chicago and traveled on foot to Milwaukee, where they 
arrived May 26, 1837. While at Milwaukee he, Rockwood and the two 
Bundys were engaged by Mr. Bird to go to Madison and work on the 
capitol building. 

Mr. Clark has resided here since that time. He has held many town, 
village and city offices, carrying on a large business in cabinet ware. He 
was married at Webster, Monroe county, New York, to Sarah L. Good- 
enow, who died at Madison, March 5, 1854. ^^ '^^ ^^^ living with his 
second wife. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 75 

Wm. a. Wheeler, Geo. Veoman, September, 1837, to March, 
1838, Zenas H. Bird, Whitesides, Jairus and Horace Pot- 
ter, Wm. Seavier and brother, Jesse Bolden, and Wm. 

WOOLCOCK. 

On the same day that Bird's party reached Madison, Simeok 
Mills, * a well known citizen arrived. From him we have re- 

* Gen. Simeon Mills was born in the town of Norfolk, Litchfield county, 
Connecticut, February 14, 1810. He removed with his parents to Austen- 
burg, Ashtabula county, O., when about two years of age, and was brought 
up on a farm. At the age of 20 he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which 
he followed several years. In 1837 he removed to Madison where he has re- 
sided up to the present time, and has been largely indentified in its success. 
On the i2th of August, 1837, Mr. Mills was appointed Justice of the Peace 
in and for the county of Dane, and for some time held the only office of the 
kind in said county. His first official act was performmg the marriage cer- 
emony between Oliver Armel and Joseph Pelkie, two Frenchmen, and two 
accomplished ladies of the Winnebago nation. 

In the spring of 1839, the county of Dane was organized for judicial 
purposes, and Mr. Mills was appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court of the 
Territory, and also Clerk of the U. S. District Court of the county of Dane, 
which last office he held for about nine years. 

Mr. Mills was the last Treasurer of the Territory in 1848, and on the or- 
ganization of the State Government, was elected the first Senator of Dane 
county, and received a re-nomination at the expiration of his term, but de- 
clined the honor, and has not been an active politician since that time. 

Retiring from politics thus early, and devoting himself to business, he 
has long since taken rank among the wealthy men of Dane county. 

Mr. Mills was appointed one of the Trustees of the Wisconsin State 
Hospital for the Insane by Governor Randall, in April, i860, and has 
held the office up to the present time ; it being an honorary position, with- 
out salary, may account for its being so long filled by others than active 
politicians. 

At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Mills was Paymaster 
General of the state, and disbursed nearly the entire war fund of Wiscon- 
sin, and, so far as we know, to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. 

He has at diff"erent times engaged in various kinds of business; but his 
main energies, for the last thirty years, have been directed to the erection of 
buildings for rent and other purposes; and he has, probably, erected more 
buildings than any other four men together that ever lived in Madison. 

Commencing in Madison, when it consisted of but one log house, he has 
lived to see it a beautiful city of more than ten thousand inhabitants. 



76 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

ceived an account of his travels in 1836 and 1837. At his first 
visit to Wisconsin he came by the way of Chicago, from which 
place in June 1836, in company with John M. Wilson^, Esq., 
he proceeded on horseback by waj^ of Galena, Dubuque and 
Belmont to Mineral Point. At the latter place he remained 
until the last of December, when in company with Mr. Van 
Horn, returned by the way of Milwaukee. He left ' Mineral 
Point when the thermometer was 32 degrees below zero, and 
stopped at Camp and Collins' Diggings in Green County, crossed 
Sugar river and journeyed toward Janesville, and stopped there 
with Mr. Holmes. The place was then known as Rock river 
rapids. Thence he crossed the prairie, and camped about 18 
miles east of where Janesville now is. Next day he journeyed to 
Troy, Walworth county, and lodged with a Mr. Meacham, thence 
pursued his way to Mukwanago and stopped a part of the night 
at a log house, when he and his friend went three miles further, 
and sent assistance to the place, where he first stayed as the 
the lady of the house was taken sick, and proceeded to Milwau- 
kee and took the stage road to Chicago, being eleven days on 
the route. He then returned to Ohio. 

Mr. Mills stayed at his home until May, 1837, when he con- 
cluded to make a residence at Madison, as the capitol had been lo- 
cated there by the legislature the year previous and the prospects 
were favorable. He came to Chicago, and with the company of 
a young man by tJie name of Benham, proceeded on foot to- 
ward the new seat of Government. Mr. Benham separated 
fi'om Mills at Janesville, as he had concluded to settle in Wal- 
worth county, and the latter completed the route by himself. 
In doing so he crossed the Catfish river three times, and at the 
close of the day, June 10, arrived on the opposite side of Lake 
Monona near Winnequah. Here he met two Indian boys who 
were preparing to spend the night fishing. Mr. Mills desired 
these lads to cany him over the lake, but they were not willing 
to do so. Soon after Mr. Mills fell in with a man by the name 
of Abraham Wood, who persuaded the lads to bring him to 
Madison, Mr. Mills paying them fifty cents each for so doing, 
which settled the question, and they landed him near the East 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 77 

Madison Depot. The day after his arrival, he engaged a man 
by the name of Isaac Towers to put up for him a building of 
logs, 16 by 18, of hewed logs, on lot 8, block 108, for a store, 
and went to Mineral Point on his way to Galena, to pur- 
chase goods. At the former place, he met John Catlin, Esq., 
who had been appointed Post Master at Madison. An arrange- 
ment was made for a co-partnership, and both went to Galena 
and laid in supplies for the new store. Mr. Catlin appointed 
Mr. Mills Deputy Post Master, and the ofiice was kept in the 
same building. This was the first mercantile establishment in 
the Territory south of Fort Winnebago, between Milwaukee 
and Dodge ville. 

As a considerable number of workmen, including one family, 
arrived at Madison at that time, to commence the erection of 
the Territorial Capitol, the business of this pioneer mercantile 
establishment, although not very extensive, was by no means so 
limited as might well be imagined from the fact that, up to that 
time, the whole white population of Dane county consisted of 
Ebenzer Brigham, at Blue Mounds, and the family of Eben 
Peck, with a few transient guests at Madison. 

The only mails at that time were received occasionally^ from 
Mineral Point and Fort Winnebago; but in the autumn of 
that year, a contract for carrying a weekly mail from Milwaukee 
to Madison, was awarded to Mr. Mills, who commenced the 
service without delay. 

The building erected by Mr. Mills, was subsequently en- 
larged and occupied by the publishers of the " Wisconsin Ar- 
gus^^^ as a printing office, and subsequently as a dwelling house. 
About a month after the building was put up, Mr. Catliis^ ar- 
rived and made his residence here. 

Nearly all the buildings put up in the summer and winter of 
183T-8 have been removed, as well as those erected the few 
years succeeding. Some notice of these structures will be 
given. 

The first framed hiiilding put up was a small office for the 
acting commissioner; the first framed dwelling was built by A. 
A. Bird, on lot 5, block 87, on Lake Monona. It was known as 



78 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

tlie " Schemerliorn House."" The boards used were sawed by 
hand. This buikling stood for many years and had numerous 
tenants. It was finally demolished, and an elegant two story 
brick dwelling occupies its site, and is the residence of J. M. 
BowMAi^r, Esq. 

A steam saw mill to saw lumber for the capitol, was built on 
the shore of Lake Mendota on block 262. Its site is occupied at 
present by buildings used for the storage of ice. 

On the 6th of September, 1837, John Stoi^er and his family 
arrived, making the third family, E. Peck and Josiah Pieece 
being his seniors. I. H. Palmer built a house on King street, 
below the Madison Hotel, the same season, and moved with his 
family. Mr. Stoker built his log house the same season near 
Lake Mendota, on block 262. A few years after he put up a 
frame house a few blocks northeast, where he made his resi- 
dence until his death, in 1872. A small Norwegian Lutheran 
church now stands on the lot where he built his pioneer log 
cabin. 

Joh:n^ Catlik built a log house early in 1837, on lots 3 and 4, 
block 90, northwest corner of Mifflin street and Wisconsin av- 
enue.* A two story frame building was afterwards built on the 
front of the old building and to face the capitol park. He had 
also a small stable built of round stones, laid up with mortar. 
The old part is gone, and the modern portion was sold to Judge 
E. Wakeley, who removed it in portions to Omaha, Nebraska. 

In the month of August_, of this year, a society was organ- 
ized called the "Madison Lyceum," for the object of mutual im- 
provement. A debating society was connected with it. The 
early records of this society are still preserved by Darwik 
Clark, Esq. 

Among the number of those who came here this season as 
residents or transiently, were J. Gillett KivTAPp, Geo. P. Dela- 
PLAiNE.f W. N. Seymour, arrived January 29, 1838; Nicho- 

* Mr. Catlin, in his " Earlj Reminiscences " (see page 35), has a more 
particular account of this building. 

f Gen. Geo. P. Delaplaine was born at Philadelphia, Pa. He removed 
west in 1838, and settled at Madison. He was for six months chief clerk in 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 79 

LAS Smith, Robert L. Ream, John Easton^, Richard T. Davis, 
James Morrisoi^, Abel Rasdall, Dr. Almon" Lull, John" T. 
WiLSOJ^, George Payn^e, Dayid Brigham, Thos. W. Suther- 
land and Lafayette Kellogg, July, 1838, temporarily, and 
permanently, May, 1839, Wm. T. Sterling, E. M. William- 
son, Geo. Hyer, Josiah A. Noonan, Isaac Atwood. 

Four families, with their inmates and guests, constituted the 
entire population of Madison, and with two or three families at 
Blue Mounds, the whole population of Dane county during the 
winter of 1837-38. 

Some of the buildings erected this year, or enlarged, were as 
as follows: 

The Madison Hotel, of which a portion was erected the pre- 
vious year, was completed, and the first session of the Supreme 
Court of the Territory was held in July in the sitting room. 
Judge Chas. Dunn, of La Fayette county, was then Chief Jus- 
tice, with Judges Frazier and Irwin as associates. 

Simeon Mills erected on lot 6, block 89 Clymer street, a framed 
building, which has thus far escaped the march of improvement. 
It was an elegant structure in its day. It was occupied first by 
Mr. Mills, afterwards by Gov. Doty, B. Shackleford, Gov. 
Tallmadge, Gen. David Atwood, Chas. Weed and many oth- 
ers. The building is almost hid by trees, and the high walls of 
the blocks of stores in the rear on Main street. It is one of the 
oldest of the landmarks of the city. 

Jas. Morrison put up a small building in the grounds of the 
present capitol square, midway between the capitol building 
and the east corner of the grounds. It was a one story log 
building, and was removed at an early day. 

The American Hotel, also built by Morrison, on the north- 
west corner of Pinckney street and Wisconsin avenue, was a 
noted place in early times. The building was subsequently 

the mercantile house of James Morrison. He has held a number of offices; 
was Surveyor, Assistant Clerk of Assembly, 1843, and was Priv^ate Secre- 
tary to Governor's Dodge, Tallmadge and Dewey. During the war of the 
rebellion he was appointed by Gov. Randall, Inspector General of Militia. 
Gen. Delaplaine has been a resident of Madison the last thirty-six years. 



80 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

enlarged. A frame building, known as the Commission- 
er's Store, which was put up on the south side of King street, 
by Mr. Morrison, adjoining the Madison Hotel on the west, 
about 22 by 30 feet in size, was removed to, and formed the 
east wing of the American. The house w^as kept by Fake & 
CoTTON^, Mr. MoREisoisr, Harvey Sadd and a large number of 
successors. As before stated, the first session of the Legisla- 
ture was held in this building in the month of February. The 
American was destroyed by fire, September 5, 1868. 

A one story framed building was put up on the southeast 
corner of Main and Pinckney streets, set back from Main street, 
and was built for Col. A. P. Field, who was Secretary of the 
Territory at this time, succeeding Col. W. B. Slaughter. It 
was subsequently altered to a hotel known as the City Hotel, 
which was kept by A. A. Bird, and also as a store by S. F. 
Hoi^x, Jehu H. Lewis and others. It was taken down some 
twenty years since, and the property purchased by Col. J. C. 
Fairchild, who erected the block of stone buildings known as 
the Fairchild Block. 

One of these early places deserves a longer notice, viz: — 
the old " Worser." This two story frame building, says Judge 
Kkapp, was placed at the northwest corner of Main and Pinck- 
ney streets, on the ground now known as the United States 
Block; and was built by Abn"er Nichols, of Mineral Point, and 
Jacob Gteorge, in 1838. Having partly completed the building, 
the owners applied for a tavern license, in order to sell liquors 
according to law, as all good liquor sellers desire to do. For 
some forgotten cause, perhaps the want of '^ two spare beds," 
they were refused. Licenses for groceries were then some four 
times the amount of those for taverns; and they desired, like 
all economical men, to save the difference. On being denied 
the license, they declared that if they could not keep a tavern^ 
they would keep something ^^ worser-y And so without a 
license, " Uncle George " opened a " worser " indeed, where men 
at the first session of the Legislature could buy strong drink, 
and in a dark cellar they could fight a certain wild animal, 
whose den was there. When the United States Hotel was to 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 81 

be built, the " Worser " was moved down Main street, ten feet 
from the new brick wall. There it was burned to the ground, 
greatly endangering the new building, which was often on fire 
in the roof, doors and windows. 

Another of the buildings put up in 1838, was a two story 
framed building on Pinckney street, adjacent to the American 
Hotel, as enlarged, and east of the Methodist church. It was 
built by John" Messersmith, Jr. It was opened as a gambling 
house, and known as '^ The Tiger," and was kept open to 
the public without fear of the law. For a few years it was a 
success, but was afterwards used as a dwelling, and an addition 
placed before it, and in its rear. The property was purchased 
by Dr. C. B. Chapman-, who sold it to J. D. Noble, and by the lat- 
ter to Fritz Maeder, who erected a fine three story brick 
building in its place. A small frame building was also put up 
this year by Wm. T. Sterling, Territorial Librarian, on the 
south side on the flat, but was removed opposite and west of the 
residence of La Fayette Kellogg, on State street. It was after- 
wards enlarged and sold to Mr. Kellogg, and by him to Chauk- 
CEY Abbott, both of whom made it their residence. It was after- 
ward displaced by the erection of Leokard Noldej^'s Hotel on 
its site. 

One other building erected this year was the Territorial Li- 
brary building — a one story wooden frame, fifteen feet square, on 
King street, on the lot known as Deai^^'s Block, near Main street. 

Isaac H. Palmer (now of Lodi, Wis.), in the summer of 
1838, erected a cottage building on Johnson street, adjoining 
the present German Catholic Church, which is now owned and 
occupied by that church as a school, under the charge of the 
Sisters. It was originally a small one-story-and-a-half house, 
with two side wings, made of rived oak hewed and planed by 
hand, with green blinds, and was regarded at the time as the 
handsomest cottage in the village. It was occupied for a while 
by Mr. Palmer, and subsequently by Rev. W. Philo, Dr. 
Spekcer and JoHis- Eastmait, and was sold by the latter to 
the church. This building, one of the oldest in the place, has 
suffered some changes, but its timbers are sound and strong. 



82 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

During the year, David Hyer built a framed house on Fair- 
child street, near the office of Register of Deeds. It was one 
and a half stories high, and was kept as a boarding house; it 
has long since been removed. * The site is ilow occupied by a 
two story brick' building, and was for a while the residence of 
Hon. Lyman C. Deaper, and more recently kept as a hotel by 
W. N. Hawes and Wm. Rasdall as the Rasdall House. L. F. 
Kellogg, Esq., states that Mr. Peck, after leaving the first 
log house, put up another on Wisconsin Avenue, near the resi- 
dence of Prof. S. H. Carpenter, that he subsequently sold it 
to J AS. Morrison, and that it shortly after took fire and was 
burnt. It was 18 by 22 feet. Abel Rasdall owned a small 
framed house, put up in 1837 or 1838, on the corner of King 
and Webster streets. It was a small affair — one room, and 
was used as a saloon. 

Mrs. RosELiNE Peck has, under date of January 24, 1874, 
kindly given a few more reminiscences of her early Madison 
life. She says: "I visited Madison, last summer, with my 
daughter and a lady friend, among the excursionists, and visited 
the ' old stamping grounds,' but so changed that I could hardly 
recognize them. The old log house, which we used as a hotel 
for about two years, was then leased or rented to R. L. Ream, 
and w^as by him kept as a house of entertainment until we left 
the place, and has since been removed. Mr. Ream was 
the father of Miss Vinnie Ream, who was born in the cabin 
after we left it. I think my daughter and Miss Vinnie were 
the only children born in it after we came away. 

"You wish to knawhow we enjoyed ourselves at those times; 
well, in various ways. We had a regular dancing school twice 
a week the first winter, in the old cabin. There was quite a 
number of young ladies and middle-aged people. Mr. Stoner 
brought four daughters, Esquire Bird had a young lady sister. 
There Avere two Brayton girls; one lived with Charles Bird 
and mother, the other at Esquire Bird's. Chas. Bird married 
one of them; the other taught, I think, our first school after- 

* Mr. E. Burdick says he thinks the Hyer House was on the adjoining 
lot now occupied by Hon. S. D. Hastings. 



FOUR LAKE COVNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 83 

wards. A. A. Bird and lady used to call, at our dances, and 
trip the light fantastic toe, and, frequently, visitors from Mil- 
waukee, Fort Winnebago, Galena and Mineral Point were pres- 
ent. Among them were Uncle Ab. Nichols, his wife and 
daughter. The latter two went ahead of us in dancing, and 
staid with us a week. We had two girls as helps of our own, 
and plenty of the other sex. So we could hardly call it succo- 
tash, there was too much corn for the beans. 

"We had various other amusements: euchre parties, Christ- 
mas and New Year's suppers, and verbal and practical jokes in- 
terspersed. We had also turtle soup suppers, the turtles caught 
by cutting holes through the ice on what was called ' Mud 
Lake,' brought to us by Abel Rasdall. Mr. Peck sent some 
of them to a Mineral Point hotel-keeper, who informed us he 
netted $50 on the sale of the soup. The turtles were frozen 
solid, and rattled together like stones. They were put in the 
cellar to thaw before we could dress them, and, going down a 
few days after, I found they had thawed out and were crawling 
around on the bottom of the cellar. Mr. Rasdall had a squaw 
without a nose — her first Indian husband had cut it off for her 
infidelity. She used to draw her blanket over it when she walked 
out. She removed west with the rest of her band with the 
United States troops, before we left Madison. 

" I have not mentioned our boating amusements. Before any 
one else was in Madison but ourselves, we found a big canoe, 
about forty feet long, supposed to have been abandoned by the 
Indians the year or two previous, in the Sauk war; and while 
the wind was blowing almost a hurricane from Strawberry 
Point (then called) across Third Lake, Mr. Peck, his brother 
LuTHEE, myself and a boy manned and womaned the canoe, 
with various implements, tools, sheets, etc., and struck out for 
the place before mentioned, rigged our sails and returned to 
Madison; but it made our hair whistle; the waves were running 
high, but we headed her straight, she being such a length she 
struck two waves at once, which steadied her sufficiently to 
carry us safely back. We had quite a number of rides in the old 
canoe, but after 'Uncle Sam's boys' came in, it was appropri- 



84 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

ated by others, and soon disappeared. I was determined to 
have another vessel of some kind to sail or paddle; so, when 
the Indians were abont to be removed, I purchased of the old 
Chief Wau-con-da, his canoe for six dollars, painted with In- 
dian hieroglyphics, in which I took a number of pleasant rides, 
until the same parties who took the first boat carried off the 
other through the Catfish to the further end of Fourth Lake, 
where they were quarrying stone from the blufp on its bank 
for the old capitol, and, in rolling them down and loading the 
scow, they smashed my little boat all to pieces. I was informed 
of the accident, but never of the person who did it. So you 
see I paddled my own canoe alone, then, as I have since, in 
more ways than one. 

" You wish me to give you some account of the men who 
built our cabin. In addition to Joe Pelkie and Abraham 
Wood, whose names I have given in a previous paper, there 
was a Mr. Lavec, a Frenchman. He had also a squaw wife. 
It was her brother that was stabbed and killed by another In- 
dian, just below our house, on the bank of Third Lake, which 
caused such an excitement among ' Uncle Sam's boj^s,' as they 
called themselves, I suppose on account of being employed to 
work on the capitol at the expense of the government. They 
collected around our house under great excitement. Some 
were for taking the murderer prisoner, and sending Governor 
Dodge word; finally they appealed to an old miner that had 
been through the Sauk war a couple of years before, who was 
sitting upon a wood-pile, for advice. ' Well,' said he, ' you are 
a pretty set of Yankees! What do you suppose Dodge would 
say to you ? I will tell you ; he would say you were a set of 
fools. If that dead Indian was a white man, I would be the 

first to take him prisoner; but because one Indian kills 

another Indian, not a bit of it! I don't move a foot. Let 

them,' said he, ' work at it — it is the only way to civilize them 
and clean them out.' The boys finally dispersed to their dif- 
ferent avocations. Old Mrs. Pierce and family were very 
much frightened, and said we would all be massacred before 
morning. We finally got them quieted, and the sister of the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 85 

murdered Indian got me to go with her to see the body, and 
there we found the murderer, sitting upon the body of his vic- 
tim smoking a long pipe, as deliberately as if he had just taken 
a hearty supper, and was about to retire for a peaceful nap, 
and to dream of happy hunting grounds. 

" You wish also to have me inform you of some of the names 
of the men who composed Mr. Bird's party that came to 
build the capitol. If you had asked for this information some 
years ago, I think I could have remembered them all, but now 
I can but give you the names of some three or four which are 
not on the list you sent me. There was William and John 
Symonds, brothers. The youngest had been brought up at a 
tavern and was useful about the house, we offered him forty 
dollars a month, and Bird released him for our benefit. The 
elder, William, was a carpenter and continued work on the 
capitol. He afterwards married the daughter of an old settler 
that kept a house of entertainment near Dodge ville, b}^ the 
name of Skinner. After we came to Baraboo to live, he, 
William, moved with his young wife to Sauk Prairie. After 
we left the log tavern, John Symonds, with another of Bird's 
men, Jefferson Holmes, went down to St. Louis and died 
there. Holmes came back to Madison and worked on the 
capitol, and also for us afterwards. There was another party, 
named Peaseley, who afterwards married Bird's sister, Janet. 
Mr. Peck married them. They first settled at Sun Prairie, 
on the place afterwards called by Col. Botkin the '76 farm. 

'' I think I. H. Palmer did not come with Bird's men, but 
soon after. He subsequently purchased glands at Lodi, where 
he made a permanent residence and where he still lives. 

'^ Another of the early coiners was a Mr. Hollow^ ay, who 
was a surveyor, and came with Doty to complete laying out 
the town of Madison. There were five Birds, brothers to A. 
A. Bird, that worked more or less on the capitol: Prosper 
B., Charles, I. Washington, Zenas B. and William. I. 
W. Bird had his arm badly injured by a saw in a shingle 
machine in the old steam mill. I do not recall the names of 
more of the workmen. 



86 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

" It may be interesting to make a note of the first born 
child in Madison — my own daughter, born September 14th, 
1837. When she was less than a week old, Judge Doty, one 
of the Commissioners for the erection of the Capitol, and 
Treasurer of the Board, arrived from Green Bay, with a large 
sum of specie, guarded by Capt. John Symington and a squad 
of soldiers from the garrison at Fort Howard, accompanied by 
Charles C. Sholes, an early editor and legislator of Wis- 
consin. They put up at our house. Doty ordered a table 
spread with wine, and he and his party standing around it, 
as solemn as a funeral — prophetic shadows go before — sipped 
their wine, and named the young babe Wisconsiana. Sim- 
eon Mills said as my boy's name was Victor, his sister's 
name should be Victoria — in honor of the young queen, 
who had, but a few weeks before, ascended the English 
throne; so that name was added, making her full name Wis- 
consiana Victoria Peck. She has been married several years 
to Nelson W. Wheeler, Esq., an attorney-at-law, Baraboo, 
Wisconsin." 

Mrs. Peck in closing her article says that she is now sixty- 
six years of age and resides in the upper part of the building 
which she erected at Baraboo — the first in the village of 
which she is the first settler. She lives alone, and says she has 
had a full share of life's troubles and disappointjnents, and has 
received but few of its favors. ' 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 87 



CHAPTER III. 

Visit of Gen. W. K. Smith, 1837 — First Legislature — "Wisconsin 
Enquirer " and other newspapers — Dane County Commission- 
ers — Poll List of , 1839 — " Madison Express " — Judge J. G. 
Knapp's Account, 1838 — Juxy 4 Celebration — Schools — Mer. 
chants — P. E. Church Organized — R.L. Ream's Reminiscences, 
1838-9. 

1^ the summer and fall of 1837, Gen. Wm. R. Smith made an ex- 
tensive tour through the Territory of Wisconsin, and in 1838 pub- 
lished, at Philadelphia, a small volume entitled " Observations 
on Wisconsin Territory," a work containing much desirable 
information for emigrants aud tourists. Gen. Smith shortly 
afterward removed to Wisconsin ^^and made it his permanent 
residence, locating at Mineral Point. His account of Madison 
and the Four Lake country, is very interesting, but too lengthy 
to be republished. We have, however, made liberal extracts: 

" Although the Seat of Government is laid out on the strip 
of land between the lakes, and the public buildings are located 
here, yet an extension of city lots has been made by the land 
proprietors all around the Four Lakes. The diflerent sites bear 
the name of East Madison, North Madison, the City of the 
Four Lakes and Mandamus. I have called Madison a contem- 
jplated city; let it be remembered that six months since, the 
site of the city was government land; now, there are about 
thirty houses in a state of forwardness; a steam saw mill near 
completion; a population of above one hundred active mechan- 
ics and laborers employed in their own improvements, and in 
the erection of public buildings which are already in a forward 
state; add to this picture of enterprise and industry, the excel- 
lent accommodations which are obtained at the public house of 
Mr. Peck, and the traveler may well be surprised at the rapid 
progress of the city of Madison. 

'' The connection between the Fourth and Third Lake is 
7iot navigable for steamboats at i:>resent{!) the stream is narrow 



88 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

and rapid. It is in contemplation to cut a canal through the 
city to connect the lakes. The distance from the head of 
Fourth Lake to the foot of the First Lake is ahout fourteen 
miles, and on the western bank of this lake is laid out a town, 
called " The City of the First Lake." I did not visit it, and 
cannot therefore speak of its localities. The site of the " City 
of the Four Lakes," * opposite to Madison on the north side of 
the lake, is a most beautiful location. Gov. Dodge, in his first 
message to the Legislature, said that the Indians had been known, 
in high water, to pass in canoes from Wisconsin river to the 
Four Lakes, the distance being only twelve miles. He there- 
fore thought it a work of but little labor to make a communi- 
cation between these two points. It is quite probable that the 
Legislature at its next session will make a law for that pur- 
pose.f 

" The Fourth Lake is a beautiful sheet of water, six [eight] 
miles from east to west, and four [six] miles from north to 
south, in its widest parts; its regular circumference being in- 
terrupted by the protrusion of wooded points of land into the 
lake. The water is from fifty to seventy feet deep, and always 
preserves its pure clearness, and sea like appearance in color, 
although sometimes disturbed into a considerable tumult 
of waves by high winds. The Third Lake is less than the 

*''The City of the Four Lakes '' comprised fractional part of section 
6, of town 7, range 9 ; 300 acres laid out. The town was platted and put 
on record July 7, 1836, M. L. Martin, W. B. Slaughter and J. D. Doty, 
proprietors. 

f Such utterances by observant and intelligent men, give a direct clue 
to the leading ideas of the time. The mania for gain, ran to villages and 
canals. Not to own a " village site," was to be rated a poor man — not 
to put faith in navigation of any streams, however small, was to lack in 
spirit of enterprise. A row of villages around Fourth Lake, was the 
dream of speculation. A canal connecting the Rock and Wisconsin riv- 
ers, was looked upon as a certainty of the future — and an immigration 
that, in a few years, would enrich every one, was staple belief, and acted 
upon in all the usual transactions of life, and something assured. The 
present generation will smile at all this — to the early settlers, it was a 
bitter experience. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 89 

Fourth, and the Second and First Lakes gradually diminish in 
size until the river of the Four Lakes continues its regular 
course to the junction of Rock river. * * * >ic 

" Springs arise all around these lakes, particularly the Fourth 
Lake, supplying the great mass of waters; but a principal source 
IS a considerable stream of two or three branches, emptying in 
on the northern shore of Fourth Lake. No situation can he 
conceived more beautiful than the shores of this lake; the land 
rises gently all around its margin, receding and rising gradual- 
ly into a gentle eminence, for about a mile from the lake, and 
the whole of this lovely shore is studded and adorned with spots 
of wood and thick groves, giving the idea of the park scenery 
m England, or the rich views of Italy; and more beautiful than 
either, m its natural state. The lake abounds with the finest 
fish, perch, bass, catfish, buff^alo fish, muskelonge, from a pound 
weight to thirty pound and more. The shores are lined with 
fine shingle and white sand, and amongst the pebbles are found 
chalcydone, agate, and cornelian, and other fine and beautiful 
stones suitable for seals, breastpins, and other ornaments, not 
only often but in abundance. 

''With regard to the several additions to Madison, laid out 
around the eastern and northern shores of the Fourth Lake, the 
towns may not for some years meet the sanguine expectations 
of the several proprietors, but it may with truth be said, that 
m whatever proportion population may increase in all or any 
of these places, compared with other parts of the Territory 
there cannot be found in any part of Western Wisconsin situ- 
ations more healthy, and more fertile, or prospects more beau- 
tiful m respect to land and water scenery, than around and in 
the vicinity of the Four Lakes; this region must in a short 
time be thickly inhabited." * * * * 

It will be noticed the predictions of Gen. Smith have not all 
been fulfilled; while the city of Madison has become all that he 
anticipated, the Catfish is not yet navigable for steamboats and 
not very likely to be for years to come -the projected canal 
across the city, was abandoned, which also may be said of the 
various cities laid out on paper around the lakes. Many persons 



90 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

in the speculative times of 1836 and '37 invested in this kind 
of property, but only to find that they were losers instead of 
gainers. 

Hon. J. T. Kingston, of Necedah, Wisconsin, informs us 
that about the 20th of December, 1837, in company with S. 
B. PiLKiNGTON, he passed through Madison, from Racine. He 
arrived here the next morning, and proceeded north to the Wis- 
consin river. The prospects of Madison did not at all appear 
promising at that time to him, and the business of mining was 
the only one that held out any inducements to immigrants. 

The Legislature of the Territory met for the first time in 
Madison, on the 26th of February, 1838. The capitol was not 
yet in a suitable condition to receive the Legislature, so that 
the members of the Council met in the little room on the left 
side of the hall of the American Hotel, and the House of Eep- 
resentatives in the basement dining room, in which permanent 
organizations took place. In the basement room Gov. Dodge 
delivered his first message at the new seat of government. A 
resolution was adopted appointing a joint committee to exam- 
ine the public buildings, and report their condition, together 
with the probable accommodation to be afPorded the Legisla- 
ture. The committee reported the next day that they had the 
assurance of the Commissioner, Mr. Bird, that the Representa- 
tives Hall and Council Chamber would be in readiness on the 
succeeding day for the Legislative Assembly. They also re- 
ported that the keepers of the three public houses would be fully 
prepared, during the week, to accommodate the members, to- 
wit: at the Madison House, two rooms that will accommodate 
six persons; at the Madison Hotel, two rooms that will accom- 
modate four persons each; and at the American Hotel, eight 
rooms sufl&cient to accommodate twenty-six persons; and, fur- 
ther, that not more than fifty persons can be accommodated 
with sufficient rooms for the transaction of business. A few 
days later, two rooms on the south side of the capitol were pro- 
nounced in readiness for the reception of the wise men of the 
Legislature, representing 18,130 inhabitants, the population of 
the then Territor}^ of Wisconsin. The counties of Grreen, 



FOUE LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 91 

Dane, Jefferson and Dodge were represented in tlie Council by 
Col. Ebenezer Brigham of Bine Monnds. Speaking of the 
Representatives. Hall, Col. Childs says: ''The floors were laid 
with green oak boards, full of ice; the walls of the room were 
iced over; green oak seats, and desks made of rough boards; 
one fire-place, and one small stove. In a few days the flooring 
near the stove and fire-place so shrunk, on account of the heat, 
that a person could run his hands between the boards. The 
basement story was all open, and James Morrison's large 
drove of hogs had taken possession. The weather was cold, 
the halls were cold, our ink would freeze — so that, when we 
could stand it no longer, we passed a joint resolution to adjourn 
for tw^enty days, and I was appointed by the two houses to 
procure carpeting for both halls during the recess. I bought 
all I could find in the Territory, and brought it to Madison, 
and put it down, after covering the floor with a thick coating 
of hay. After this we were more comfortable." 

Judge J. Gr. Ki^APP, in his " Early Reminiscences of Madison," 
in speaking of the first Legislative Session at Madison, says: 
" Having organized the Legislature, the next question was for 
members, ofiicers and lobby to find places to eat and sleep in. 
Though we paid metropolitan prices, it cannot be said that we 
had exactly metropolitan fare. But men were remarkably 
accommodating in those early times, and without a grumble 
could eat ' hog and hominy ' or ' common doings ' when 
' chicken fixings ' could not be had, and they could occupy a 
' field bed' when they were required to sleep * spoon fashion.' 
A frontier life is a mighty leveller — much like poverty mak- 
ing men acquainted with strange bedfellows. The ' school 
section' of the 'American,' embracing most of the garret, 
was marked into lodging places by cracks in the floor, and its 
other rooms were equally crowded. At the Madison House, 
only six men were placed in a room sixteen feet square, and 
four others had a place at the fire during the day and evening. 
The floors of the Madison House were also nightly covered 
with shake-downs for travelers and transient visitors. Happy 
were those men who could find places in the few private houses 



92 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

where four men might find two beds in a cold room ten or twelve 
feet square." 

Gen. Geo. P. Delaplain^e, a well known citizen, removed here 
in September, 1838. He was engaged for a time with Jas. Mok- 
Eisoi!^ as a clerk the Commissioners' Store. 

For the sake of preserving some additional facts connected 
with the early history of Madison we may add, that the first 
Neiv Years was duly commemorated at the hospitable house of 
Mr. and Mrs. E. Peck; and her husband's brother, Luther 
Peck, could discourse sweet music from the violin ; and a dance 
was inaugurated, which lasted two days and two nights. In 
those days, with but a weekly mail, and that sometimes irreg- 
ular and uncertain, and but four families in the place, some 
show of sociality and good cheer became necessary, to chase 
away the ennui that might otherwise have crept in during the 
long and tedious winter. 

The first wedding in Madison took place at Mr. Peck's, on 
the 1st of April, 1838. The happy bridegroom was Jairus 
S. Potter, better known as Lokg Potter, a tall lank fellow, 
to contra-distinguish him from Horace Potter, denominated 
Short Potter; and the bride was Miss Elizabeth Allen^, 
who worked in Peck's family. Gen. Mills procured a pretty 
bouquet of early flowers from the high sandy ridge dividing 
Third and Dead Lakes, to grace the occasion, and Mr. Peck, 
who was a justice of the peace, tied the matrimonial knot, which 
was followed by a dance, Mrs. Peck ofiiciating on the violin, 
except when she herself tripped gracefully over the floor, when 
Mr. Ebe:n- Peck was her substitute. Mr. Potter remained in 
Madison until his death, about 1841; and his widow has long 
since passed away. Gen. Mills, Darwij^^ Clark, and Mrs. 
Prosper B. Bird, who were present, speak in terms of pleasant 
remembrance of this primitive wedding; and Gen. Mills adds, 
that the spring of 1838 opened unusually early, or he would 
not have been able to procure the beautiful bouquet of wild 
flowers to grace the wedding festival. 

On the 8th of November, 1838, the first number of the 
" Wisconsin Enquirer'' was issued, the first newspaper pub- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 93 

lished here, Josiah A. Noo:n-ai^* was the editor and proprietor, 
who had the usual enterprise of frontier printers in gettino- his 
office opened. 

Mr. NooN-Aif had ordered a press and material from Buffalo 
to come by way of the lakes to Green Bay, and thence up Fox 
river on barges to Fort Winnebago, whence it was to have 
been carted over-land to Madison. The bill of shipment came 
in due time, but weeks passed, and nothing was heard of the 
material. The season was getting late, and no press. Finally 
Mr. NooKAK engaged Mr. Hyee to mount a pony, and go to 
Fort Winnebago, forty miles distant, and make inquiry about 
the missing material, and if nothing was heard of it, to con- 
tinue on to Green Bay. There were then no roads, no guides, 
no regular stopping places; by the route taken there was no 
clearly defined track between Madison and Fort Winnebago, 
and but one stopping place, a half breed's house, within ten or 
twelve miles of the Fort. But from Fort Winnebago to Green 
Bay there was a good military road, running east of Lake 
Winnebago, affording a good route, and convenient stopping 
places among traders and Indians. On reaching Fort Winne- 
bago, Mr. Hyer gained information that convinced him that 
the press and material had been thrown overboard, in a storm, 
in Lake Huron, oflP Mackinaw; but it was months after the 
unfortunate event before its fate was fully known. Satisfied 
that it would be useless to look further for the missing printing 
material, Mr. Hyer started back the next morning for Madi- 
son, reaching there that night, and gave such information of 
the matter as he had been able to learn. This led Mr. Nooin-aj^ 

* Josiah A. Noonan, Esq., was a native of Montgomery county, New 
York, and educated as a printer, with Chas. S. Benton, of Little Falls, 
New York. In 1836 he removed to Michigan, and in 1838, after the 
location of the seat of government, to Madison, Wis., and was publisher 
of the " Wisconsin Enquirer," and elected territorial printer. In 1840 he 
removed to Milwaukee and published the " Milwaukee Advertiser " and 
afterwards the '' Morning News." He was subsequently appointed Post- 
master, which position he held a number of years. He was subsequently 
interested in the Humbolt Paper Mill, near Milwaukee, and more recently 
has removed to Chicago, where he is the publisher of the " Industrial Age." 



94 HIS TOUT OF MADISON AND THE 

to purchase the " Racine Argiis^^^ and transfer the material to 
Madison, followed immediately by the publication of the " Wis- 
consin Enquire}\^'' the first number of which appeared on the 
8th of November, 1838, and on which Mr. Hyer set the first 
type. With a single hand press, and scarcely any conveniences, 
this little office issued a newspaper, the bills, journals, reports, 
and laws of the Legislature, including a revision of the laws 
then in force. It was published in a room over the Commis- 
sioner's Store on King street. It was a six column weekly and 
commenced its career full of spirit and energy. In the intro- 
ductory, the editor says: ^' With party politics we shall not for 
the present take any very active part, believing that there is 
nothing in the situation of the Territory that makes it neces- 
sar}^ for the newspapers in it now, to burthen their columns 
with labored discussions of the common political questions of 
the day." 

The paper, however, was not long free from politics. The 
greatest strife was of a local nature. Parties at that day, had 
not become fully organized. In April, 1839, Mr. C. C. Sholes 
became a partner. Other changes took place subsequently. 
George Hyer, J. Gillett Knapp, Harrisok Reed, David 
Lambert and Barlow Shackleford were interested in its 
management. It was discontinued after June, 1843. 

1839. — An election for Board of Commissioners of Dane 
county, was held in May, at Madison, which was the only 
voting place, and Simeon Mills, Eben Peck and Jeremiah Ly- 
can were elected. At their first meeting, May 15, at the Madi- 
son Hotel, they chose La Fayette Kellogg, Clerk ; John Sto- 
ner, County Treasurer; Wm. A. Wheeler, Assessor; H. L. 
Ream, Register of Deeds; David Hyer, Coroner; Adam Smith 
and J. Ubeldine, Constables. On the 25th of May, Gov. Dodge 
appointed John Catlin, District Attorney; Isaac H. Palmer, 
Judge of Probate; N. T. Parkinson, Sheriff; Isaac Atwood, 
Public Administrator; G. P. Delaplaine, District Surveyor, 
W. N. Seymour, Justice of the Peace, vice S. Mills, resigned, 
and John T. Wilson, Auctioneer. 

A subsequent meeting of this board was held May 15, at 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 95 

wliicli time most of the persons elected presented tlieir bonds, 
which were accepted. On the 16th two election precincts 
were established, one at Madison, and the other at Moiind- 
ville (Blue Mounds); at the former. Prosper B. Bird, 
Darwin Clark and J. S. Potter were appointed Judges of 
Election, and at the latter, Prescott Brigham, J. C. Kellogg 
and Sidney Carman. On the 4th of June, G. P. Dela- 
PLAiNE filed his bond as District Surveyor, and N. T. Parkin- 
son, as Sheriff. On the 5th of July two supervisors were 
chosen; No. 1, Edward Campbell, No. 2, Horace Lawrence 
and H. Lawrence, Chas. S. Peaslee and Isaac Atwood to act 
as commissioners to lay out a county road in the direction of 
Fort Winnebago. Tavern licenses were fixed at $20 at Madi- 
son, and $12 in other parts of the county. On the 6th of July, 
the Clerk of the Board was authorized to receive proposals for 
the erection of a county jail, 24 feet long, 18 feet wide — two 
rooms — one story high, of square timber — walls eight inches 
thick, and Simeon Mills was directed to make a loan of $1,000 
to defray the expenses. On the 22d of the same month, Robert L. 
Ream was elected Clerk of the Board, vice L. F. Kellogg re- 
signed. Bids were received for the erection of the jail from P. 
W. Matts, Geo. Vroman, J. S. Potter, Nelson Hart & Co. 
Isaac Atwood, A. Rasdall, David Hyer, Thos. Jackson and 
N. T. Parkinson, ranging from $1,139, the bid of J. S. Potter; 
to $2,000 — that of A. Rasdall. The contract was awarded 
to Mr. Potter, who, failing to give bonds, it was given to N. T. 
Parkinson, for $1,348. The building was erected on lot 10, 
block 113. 

On the 25th of May, 1839, the " Enquirer'' contained an ar- 
ticle respecting Dane county, in which the whole population 
was estimated at three hundred, more than half of whom re- 
sided at Madison. This was doubtless too high an estimate, as 
the population by the census of 1840 was but 314. The village 
then contained two stores, three public houses, three groceries 
and one steam mill — in all thirty-five buildings. The same 
article states that prices had ranged during the year then passed 
as follows: Corn, $1.25 per bushel; oats, 75 cents; potatoes, 



96 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

11.00; butter, 37^ cents to 62i cents per pound; eggs, 37i to 75 
cents per dozen; pork and beef 7 to 12 cents per pound. 

Geo. O. Tiffany and Simeon Mills advertised, September 
20, to run a stage semi-weekly from Milwaukee to Madison in 
connection with the established line to Mineral Point. 

The amount of the assessment roll placed in the hands of the 
collector, was 12,974.71. 

On the 30th of September the Board gave a bounty of 13.00 
for wolf scalps. On the 3d of October the amount was reduced 
to 11.00. 

As a matter of curiosity we give the names of the voters at 
Madison precinct, as taken from a poll list, August 5, 1839, 
now in possession of Darwin" Clark, Esq. Some of the voters 
were not residents of the village, but living outside of the lim- 
its. At that time but few farms were cultivated; land was 
abundant and at moderate prices, and the voters were located but 
a short distance in the country : Berry Haney, A. A. Bird, Geo. 
A. Tiffany, John Yosburg, Geo. Veoman, Wm. N. Seymour, 
Darwin Clark, W. W. Wyman, W. G. Simonds, Dr. Almon 
Lull, John Catlin, John T. Wilson, Simeon Mills, Abel 
Rasdall, W. G. Van Bergen, Ebenezer Brigham, N. T. 
Parkinson, Chas. H. Bird, Jeff. Kinney, Samuel Chappell, 
Zenas H. Bird, Reuben Brown, Abram Wood, Lucius Ham- 
mond, Prosper B. Bird, Isaac H. Palmer, Eben Peck, Thos. 
Jackson, Jona. Butterfield, Chas. S. Peaslee, Josiah A. 
NooNAN, R. L. Ream, W. B. Slaughter, Geo. H. Slaughter, 
J. Pelkie, Adam Smith, A. Wakefield, W. A. Wheeler, W. 
HoADLEY, David Hyer, H. Lawrence, J. F. Potter, Geo. Ba- 
ker, Oliver Armell, John Stoner, John Betts, Henry Fake, 
N. C. Prentiss, Nelson Hart, Thos Perry, Isaac Atwood, 
Hiram Fellows, Richard Palmer, and Luther Peck. Total, 54 
voters. 

The " Madison Express " was the title of the second paper 
established in Madison. The first number was issued on the 2d 
day of December, 1839. W. W. Wyman, editor and publisher. 
It was a neatly printed six-column weekly paper, starting off in 
support of the then Territorial administration, and claiming to 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 97 

be devoted to the advancement of the best interests of the 
people. In 1840, it was enlarged to a seven column paper^ and 
came out decidedly in favor of the Whig party, raising the 
name of Wm. H. Harrison at the editorial head — declaring 
for Harrison and Reform. The paper continued with marked 
success until May, 1848, when it was temporarily suspended. In 
1848 the office was purchased by David Atwood & Royal 
Buck, and the publication was resumed. The further his- 
tory of this and other Madison newspapers will be hereafter 
continued. 

Judge Kkapp* gives the following account of the communi- 
cations leading to and from Madison at his first visit : 

" My first recollections of actually seeing Madison and its 
surroundings carry me back to the summer of 1838, when after 
a rapid reconnoisance for a canal from Waupun to the head of 
Duck creek, I came to Madison as a delegate to a Territorial 
Congressional convention. Our road then ran on the west side 
of the Fourth Lake (the lakes were numbered, and had no spec- 
ial names in those days), and over the high prairies in the 
western part of Westport and Vienna, coming in at the paper 
''City of the Four Lakes," through Mandamus and around the 
south end of the lake, so as to enter the present road near the 
stone quarry. 

" But two roads, then, led from the capitol out of town, the 
one west, partly along State street and University avenue, to 
near the residence of A. E. Brooks. There it parted, one run- 

* Hon. Jos. G. Knapp was born at New Lebanon, N. Y., Sept. 21, 1805. 
He studied law, and removed to Wisconsin, landing at Green Bay, Novem- 
ber 20, 1835. He came to Madison, 1839, and was editor and proprietor 
of the Wisconsin Enquirer in 1842. He was elected by the Territorial 
Legislature January 29, 1846, Superintendent of Public Property, suc- 
ceeding Hon. John Y. Smith, and was re-elected February 9, 1S47, and 
March 9, 1848, to the same office. Mr. Knapp practiced law in Madison 
until his appointment in 1861, as Associate Judge of the Territory of New 
Mexico. This appointment he held until 1863, when he returned to Wis- 
consin. Judge Knapp has written much for the newspapers and periodi- 
cals on agricultural and scientific subjects generally. He removed to New 
Mexico in 1873, ^^'^ resides at Mesilla. 



98 HISTORY OF MADISON- AND THE 

ning southwest, leading towards Green county; tlie otlier con- 
tinued west beyond the second railroad culvert, at which place 
it branched for Blue Mounds and Fort Winnebago. The Green 
county road branched again beyond the Dead Lake, for Hume's 
Ferry ov<er Rock river. Janesville was then scarcely begun. 
This then, and long after, was the road to Rock and Wal- 
worth counties. The east road forded the Catfish river nearly 
where the bridge now is, and branching soon after, one led to 
Cottage Grove, where it again parted, one to Lake Mills, and 
the other to Fort Atkinson. The main track followed near the 
present road to Sun Prairie, and thence to Lake Mills by way 
of Marshall, then called '' Bird's Ruins.^f It was by this line 
the first workmen arrived here from Milwaukee. Near the 
" 76 " farm, an Indian trail ran by the Prairie House. Horace 
Lawrexce lived there then, in a little house, keeping " bach." 
This was the only house between Madison and Rowan's. The 
trail crossed Token creek a mile above the present village, and 
then ran over the prairies, striking the military road at Row- 
an's, now Poynette. By this trail I returned from Madison. 
Then there were no roads in the direction of Columbus, Beaver 
Dam and Waupun. In fact those towns were then unsettled, 
and the lands unentered at the land ofi&ce. 

Then the '' City of Four Lakes " X had a very decided ad- 

f Bird's Ruins had its name in this wise : It had been observed by Col. 
Bird's party who passed there in June, 1837, that it would make a desi- 
rable location; and as Bird's trail was for some time the only route of 
travel between Milwaukee and Madison, Zenas H. Bird, a brother of Col. 
Bird, took down his small building in Madison, about the spring of 1839, 
and re-erected it at the crossing of Waterloo creek, and moved there, with 
the view of establishing a tavern at that locality, and put up a much larger 
frame for a house ; but by the autumn of that year, other routes of travel 
begun to be opened, and Mr. Bird regarding the prospects as unpromising, 
abandoned the premises, and returned to Madison ; and left to the action 
of storms and weather, the building, in the course of two or three years, 
fell to the ground — and hence the place was named Bird's Ruins. The 
village of Hanchettville, since changed to Marshall, subsequently sprung 
up there. Mr. Bird, an early hotel keeper, died in Madison in 1843. 

X A post-office was established here before the one at Madison, but was 
discontinued August q, 1837. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 99 

vantage over Madison. That city, owned mostl}^ by Virginia 
gentlemen, had houses and people; Madison had no such luxu- 
ries, but it had an energetic proprietor. To-day one is a city 
with a Mayor and common council, four storied stone and brick 
blocks, with moss on the roofs, railroads, Nicholson pavements, 
macadamized streets, sidewalks and stoned gutters, plenty of 
debts and taxes, thronged streets with noise, dust and jostlings 
of business, conflagrations and fire engines. The other city is 
a wheat field, or grown up to brush, with less houses than it had 
in 1836. 

The anniversary of National Independence was celebrated in 
due form (1839). Joh:n- CATLm, Esq., was President, A. A. 
Bird and Simeok Mills, Vice Presidents. The Declaration of 
Independence was read by Geo. P. DELAPLAiiiTE, and the Ora- 
tion by Wm. T. Sterling. The celebration was a " great suc- 
cess." Volunteer toasts were given by S. Mills, A. A. Bird, 
G. P. Delaplaine, R. L. Ream, D. Clark, A. Smith, C. Peas- 
lee, E. Brigham, Wm. N. Seymour, L. F. Kellogg, Geo. Hter, 
and others. Some of the toasts were very severe on the politi- 
cal actions of Gov. S. T. Masoj^, Acting Governor, who was 
for some reasons exceedingly unpopular. Of this celebration, 
Judge J. G. K:t^APP, who was present, remarks: " The Madison- 
ians having determined to celebrate the Fourth of July, and to 
vary for the occasion the usual diet of bacon and fish, " Ukcle 
Ab," of the " Worser," had agreed to deliver them a fat steer for 
the occasion. The evening of the third came, and Nichols 
also, boisterously happy. Individually he had commenced an- 
ticipating the good feeling, which the keg he carried in his 
wagon, intended primarily for the " Worser," but ultimately de- 
signed, after quadrupling its cost in favor of that institution, 
for the Madisonians, whose whistles had long been dry. Men 
drank " Peckatonica " and " Rock river," in those days, and 
thought there could be no feast without it. "^ True to his trust, 
Nichols had brought the steer, and tied him in a thicket to a 
burr oak tree, near the intersection of Dayton and State streets, 

* " Peckatonica " and Rock river,'' and the names of some other streams, 
were used to designate various grades of whisky. 



100 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

where none of the hungry men could see it. Then taking one 
more drink from his " pocket pistol," he advanced to the crowd 
of loungers and longers; for the whisky of the " Worser " had 
long since failed, and all were remarkably dry. The keg was 
unloaded and tapped in less time than I can tell it, and all hands 
summoned to drink. So the Fourth of July began, as it not 
unfrequently happens, on the third. The tethered steer was 
forgotten, in the joy that whisky, as meat, drink and lodging, 
prevaded the crowd; and none enjoyed it more than ''Ukcle 
Ab " himself. The Madisonians, next day, celebrated the 
Fourth in due course. They marched in due form to martial 
music made by two squeaking fiddles.f Fiddlers and men at 
the head, and women at the tail of the line. Geo. P. Dela- 
PLAiNE read the declaration, and William T. Sterling deliv- 
ered a short but broad winged eagle oration. After which the 
procession reformed in close order, and with '^ double quick" 
marched back to the " Worser," and to the public dinner of ba- 
con and fish, the diet of other days, except they had whisky to 
drink. They eat, they drank, and they danced to the cheery 
notes of the fiddles, and were right merry. 

Three days after, when the keg was empty, and no more 
whisky to be had, " Uncle Ab " sobered of, and bethought him 
of the steer tied to the burr oak, and that instead of having 
been served up on the National feast, he was still under the 
tree. There it was that the butcher's knife released him at once 
from his three days' fast and from life ; and he served to vary 
the daily diet of bacon and bread on common days of the year." 

A school was taught by Mr. Edgar S. Searle, in the sum- 
mer of 1839. Mr. Searle continued one term, and was suc- 
ceded in the summer of 1840, by E. M. Williamson. These 
gentlemen and their successors, taught in a small building on 
the corner of Pinckney and Dayton streets. The building is 
described as having a wooden frame, the inner walls of brick 
and entirely destitute of the modern conveniences of school 
houses at the present day. Four sticks driven into — sometimes 

f George W. S toner, Esq., a youth at that time, says that Eben and 
Luther Peck played the fiddles, and Thomas Hill played the flute. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 101 

tlirongh — a slab, and convex side down, formed movable seats. 
Mr. Williamson taught the boys only, his school numbering 
about six pupils. The girls were taught at the same time by a 
Miss Pierce, in an old building, situated in the vicinity of Dean's 
new block. At this early date, thirteen pupils comprised the 
membership of the Madison schools. Mr. Williamson con- 
ducted the school two terms, and w^as succeeded in the winter 
of 1842, by Mr. Theodore Conkey. 

The further history of our schools will be continued under 
the proper dates. 

On the 14th of December, 1839, Edward Campbell adver- 
tises he had purchased the stock of Catlin & Mills and was pre- 
pared to supply the wants of the people in this section, that 
they need not be dependent on Mineral Point, Galena and Mil- 
waukee for supplies; and November 26, N. T. Parkinson & Co., 
advertise the ''Madison Exchange" on Doty's corner, half 
way between the American and Madison Hotels. These two 
merchants are the only persons who advertised in the Madison 
Express^ the others were small dealers. In November, David 
Brigham & Thos. W. Sutherland advertised a law office 
and land agency. 

The first steps taken for the establishment of a church at 
Madison were as follows: A paper was drawn up in the follow- 
ing form with the accompanying signers, on the 25th of July, 
1839. E. M. Williamson, Esq., has kindly furnished a copy of 
the same: 

" We, whose names are hereunto attached, believing the Holy 
Scriptures to be the word of God, and deeply feeling the import- 
ance of maintaining divine services in our town, and preferring 
the Protestant Episcopal Church to any other, we hereby unite 
ourselves into a parish of the said church for the above and every 
other purpose which is requisite and necessary to the same. 

" Madison, July 25, 1839. 

" Signed by John Catlin, J. A. Noonan, Henry Fake, H. 
Fellows, M. Fellows, A. Hyer, H. Dickson, H. C. Fellows, 
Adam Smith, A. Lull, Almira Fake, La Fayette Kellogg, 
George C. Hyer, J. Taylor, A. A. Bird, David Hyer." 



102 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The history of this church will be continued hereafter. 

We find that John T. Wilson and Elias J. Williams were 
in business here as blacksmiths, in 1839. In December Mr. 
Williams retired. Catlin and Noonan advertised a general 
land office business; W. N. Seymour & J. T. Clark, attorneys, 
D. Brigham & T. W. Sutherland were practicing law and 
land office agency. J as. Morrison advertised the American 
Hotel for sale August 31, 1839, and on the 2d of September, it 
was advertised by Kintzing Pritchette by his attorney M. M. 
Strong. The title of this property even at that date was in 
dispute, and was not settled until many years afterwards. Ed- 
ward Campbell advertised that he had purchased the stock of 
Catlin & Mills, and proposed continuing the business. Mrs. 
Louisa M. Sawin, formerly Miss L. M. Brayton, says that in 

1837 she taught a select school in Madison. The first one in 
the town. 

Robert L. Ream, Esq.,* an early settler, now a resident of 
Washington, D. C, has kindly furnished his reminiscences of 

1838 and 1839, which are here given: 

'^ In the latter part of April, in the year 1838, I first visited 
Madison. I traveled there in company with Mr. Wells, who, 
with a two-horse team, was supplying the people of Madison 
with produce from his farm in Green county. Madison then 
consisted of not more than a dozen houses, built and in pro- 
cess of erection, counting every cabin and shanty within three 
miles of the capitol, and was the only market for Grreen county 
farmers. 

" Mr. Wells and I left Monroe, then called New Mexico, in 
the morning, and reached Grand Springs, near Sugar river, late 
in the afternoon, and camped there for the night. This was 
before the land there was entered by Mr. McFadden, and the 
Springs had not yet been named. We built a large log tire, 

* Robert L. Ream was born in Centre county, Penn., October i6, 1809; 
emigrated to Ohio in 1832, and from thence to Wisconsin. While a resi- 
dent of Madison he held a number of offices. He now resides at Washing- 
ton, D. C, and lias held, for a number of years, a position in the General 
Land Office. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 103 

(to keep off the wolves, as Mr. Wells said), and fried our ba- 
con and boiled oar coffee. The aroma from our dainty dishes 
must soon have filled the atmosphere, for the prediction of Mr. 
Wells was verified in an incredibly short space of time, by 
the surrounding of our camp with prairie wolves in droves. 
Then commenced such a snarling, fighting, barking and howl- 
ing as I never heard before or since. They made the ' night 
hideous,' and kept up the music with a thousand and one varia- 
tions until morning's dawn. During the night we chopped 
down more trees, cut them into logs, and kept up a rousing 
fire, the roar and crackle of which made a splendid accompani- 
ment to our opposition concert in camp, which consisted of 
negro melodies and camp-meeting songs, which we had learned 
from the Hoosier prairie breakers in Greene, where it had been 
my good fortune to serve an apprenticeship at prairie break- 
ing. Thus we spent a sleepless night (my first night in Dane 
county). We struck camp early next morning, without bid- 
ding our recently made acquaintances a very formal adieu. 

''We found the then traveled road very crooked and winding, 
and running at almost all points of the compass, and when 
within five or six miles of Stoner's prairie we halted and took 
observations. After determining the proper course to take in 
the direction of Madison, I went ahead with an axe, blazing 
trees. Mr. Wells followed with his team. We struck the 
prairie where George YROMAiq^'s farm was afterwards located. 
The road which I then blazed was afterwards adopted by the 
public and traveled for many years. After passing through 
the prairie, we followed the old trail to Madison, where we ar- 
rived the second day. 

" Having business at Fort Winnebago, and there being no 
travel in that direction, I was compelled to make the journey 
alone, so I negotiated with Mr. Ubeldike for a roan-colored, 
bob-tailed Canadian pony, with cropped mane, large ears and 
white belly. Mr. UBELDii^E kept the only livery stable, and 
this was the only horse to be hired in Madison. On this im- 
posing steed I seated myself next day, and started for the fort, 
forty miles distant by the trail. There was no wagon road 



104 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

from Madison in that direction, and the only two houses be- 
tween there and the fort^were those of Wm. Lawrej^ce near 
Token creek, and Wallace Rowak's hotel on the military 
road, some thirty miles distant from Madison. At this hotel I 
put up for the night, and being not much used to that particu- 
lar kind of locomotion, was very tired. Rowak's wife served 
me bountifully with hoe cake and bacon. I then went to 
sleep and slept soundly until towards morning, when I was 
aroused by several cocks crowing simultaneously in close prox- 
imity to my bed. I did not discover until daylight that the 
foot rail of my bedstead was the roost of Mr. RowAi;r's 
chickens. 

" I remained the next night at Fort Winnebago, and pick- 
eted my pony on a grass plot near the hotel, giving him about 
thirty feet of rope. The hotel was the only house where trav- 
elers could be entertained outside the garrison. Mr. Hektey 
Merrill and his family lived in it. I found the accommoda- 
tions excellent. An amusing incident occurred there that night 
which I cannot help mentioning. In the room in which I 
slept were four beds, one in each corner, and all curtained. I 
occupied one of these beds, and it appears that the other three 
were occupied by gentlemen and their wives. In the night we 
were all aroused by a cry of robbers, thieves, Indians, etc. All 
started up at the alarm, the ladies shrieking with fright. The 
room was dark, and in the confusion we ran against each other 
very amusingly. When a light was struck, the scene was ex- 
tremely ludicrous — ladies in their night clothes looking like 
affrighted ghosts, some of them clinging to the wrong man; 
men without any night clothes, and very little of any other 
kind, making frantic exertions to find out the cause of the dis- 
turbance. The supposition was, that some soldiers had been 
on a carousal, and had mistaken the hotel for the garrison; but, 
under the charge of Capt. Lowe, such a breach of the regula- 
tions would never have been allowed; and the cause of the 
alarm was not satisfactorily explained. 

" I found my pony safe in the morning. The gallinippers 
had worried him badly, and kept him in motion most of ^he 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 105 

night; the blood was still oozing through his perforated skin. 
Then, and not until then, did I realize the true force of the ex- 
pression 'thicker than mosquitoes.' The atmosphere was lit- 
erally filled with them. In those days, persons in the habit 
of traveling much, were obliged to protect their faces and 
heads with gauze or mosquito-bar vails, so very great was the 
annoyance of these insects. 

"I will here digress, and relate some of the incidents told 
me at that time about the frontier soldier's life. 

" It often happens that the government troops in these west- 
ern outposts become badly demoralized and mutinous. When 
watched so closely that they cannot safely carry bottles or jugs 
of liquor into quarters, they resort to every imaginable means 
of smuggling it in. They have been known to saturate their 
blankets, overcoats and other garments with whisky obtained 
of the sutler, then pass the guards unsuspected, and, after 
reaching quarters, wring out the whisky and drink it. 

" Shortly previous to my visit to the Fort a mutiny was 
threatened there. Capt. Lowe was in command. The sentinels 
at the gate refused to obey orders, which was reported to the 
captain. He made his appearance in due time, and demanded 
an explanation. x4.s the sentinel whom he suspected for disloy- 
alty was performing some extra evolutions which the captain 
did not care to exactly understand, he suddenly raised his right 
foot, and dexterously brought it with full force against the head 
of the sentinel, and brought him sprawling at his feet. This 
improvised tactic — (not in the manual) — was so demonstrative 
that the mutineers quailed before him, and at once subsided into 
submission, and no further attempt at mutiny was made during 
his command at the Fort. 

" Returning to Madison, I spent the next night at Mr. Row- 
an's, slept in the same bed, and as before was awakened at cock 
crowing. At the dawn of day I discovered what I thought 
was a small flock of sheep, scattered around on the floor, but on 
closer observation, I found they were Indians. They had come 
in during the night from some trading post, where they had 



106 mSTOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

obtained new white blankets, and had taken possession of the 
floor, without ever disturbing my slumber. 

" From Madison back to Monroe there was no mode of con- 
veyance, and I made this journey on foot in one day. It was 
then fully forty miles by the meanderings of the road. There 
were no bridges, and I was obliged to wade Sugar river and its 
tributaries as well as several large marshes, in some of which 
the track lay knee deep under water, and I suffered severely 
with the rheumatism in consequence thereof. 

" Aside from the promising prospect of Madison as the seat 
of government of a great state not far in the future, I became 
so infatuated with the natural beauties of the place, that I soon 
determinated to make it my home. Like an emerald gleaming 
among pearls it nestled amid the clear placid waters of the 
Four Lakes, and the view from the undulating surface of the 
country around, was a setting well fitted for the unsurpassed 
jewels, not unworthy of comparison with the famous views from 
the shores of Lakes Conio and Magaire or the Bay of Naples in 
the old world. 

'' In the latter part of May or June of the same year I made 
another trip to Madison, when I negotiated with Mr. Peck for 
the Madison House, and in the month of June removed my 
family there and took possession as the landlord. This was the 
first house in Madison, now passed from our view into chaos, the 
shadow only remaining — it has been photographed — was not 
an isolated cabin, but comprised two log cabins built of oak 
logs, each cabin twenty feet square, one and a half stories high, 
the inside hewed slightly with an axe to straighten the walls, 
the cracks between the logs chinked and daubed with mortar. 
These cabins were set about twenty-four feet apart, the space be- 
tween them boarded up, roofed with oak plank, battened with 
slabs and floored with puncheons, as was also the balance of the 
house. There were plenty of doors and windows. The grand 
hall between the cabins made a spacious dining room, answered 
well for a ball room, and was often used for holding caucuses and 
secret councils under lock and key. On the north side there 
was also a cabin built of logs, shed shape, called a lean-to; this 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WIS-CONSIN. 107 

building, made a large kitchen and room for servants. I take 
that back, there were no servants but the mistress of the house. 
The hired help occupied it when we had any. To this we built 
an additional room of frame work boarded with shakes and 
roofed with shingles, for a family room. 

" The pioneers of a new country before the era of railroads, 
telegraphs or mail facilities, can only realize the domestic trials, 
troubles and turmoils incident to a back wood's life. Fortu- 
nately there were few lady travelers on account of the great in- 
conveniences in modes of travel and accommodations on the 
road. 

" There was a number of Indian wigwams around us, some in 
sight of our doors ; at first Mrs. Ream lived in great fear and 
dread of them, and attributed her peace and the success with 
which she gained their good graces, to a large bunch of pea- 
cock feathers which she had brought with her, and dealt out 
to them one by one. Thej^ seemed to have a talismanic effect. 
We made repeated endeavors to civilize them and teach them 
to be of service to us, but their utter disregard to cleanliness 
and innate laziness baffled all our efforts. Hired girls were 
out of the question, and the stronger sex were consequently of- 
ten to be seen bending gracefully over the cook stove or wash- 
tub, as well as cleaning and scrubbing. On one occasion we 
were happily relieved for some weeks by the assistance of two 
young ladies, the Misses Peirce of Grreen county. Their help 
was invaluable to us, but it seemed so, also to others, for they 
both soon returned to be married to worthy men of their own 
county. One became Mrs. Rust, the other Mrs. Rattan", both 
well to do farmers' wives. Next there came along a Teutonian 
named Schwartze, with a kit of cabinet maker's tools upon 
his back, which he had packed all the way from Milwaukee to 
Galena, expecting to find work there but failed, then returning 
by way of Mineral Point, reached Madison broken down, dis- 
couraged and disheartened and without a penny. I think it 
was on the 4th of July, 1838, when he arrived, at any rate the 
people ot Madison were holding a jubilee of some kind, and a 
ball was coming off at the Madison House. Our newly arrived 



108 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

guest desired to engage in the festivities, provided he could 
borrow some clean clothes suitable to the occasion. These were 
soon forth coining from our wardrobe, and when properly ar- 
rayed he became the grand attraction of the occasion, and ex- 
hibited his accomplishments by waltzing a long time with a 
tumbler filled with water on his head. He was nearly sixty 
years of age, but as agile and as active a boy of ten. As we could 
converse with him in his native tongue, he was loth to leave, 
and more from sympathy than anything else, we engaged him 
to make some articles of furniture, such as could be wrought 
from oak or basswood lumber as we had no other kind. Among 
other useful articles that he constructed was a wheelbarrow. 
When he had finished his mechanical labors we employed him 
as head cook at the rate of seventy-five dollars per month, and 
he was also to keep the household furniture in repair. He was 
exceedingly kind and clever all the time, looking out for our 
interests. He remained with us several months. I remember 
one strong blustering day in the fall. Judge Doty and Col. 
MoRRisoi^ arrived with their ladies. They had traveled all the 
way from Mineral Point without rest or refreshment and re- 
ported themselves, tired, cold and hungry. With orders to get 
the best supper the house could afford, Schwartze was soon 
in the dough up to his elbows and some one else was directed to 
build a fire in a large Franklin stove standing in the best room, 
which had been placed at the service of our distinguished guests. 
There had been no fire in the stove during the past season, and 
it was not discovered until the smoke gave warning that there 
was a large crack or fissure in the back of the stove. The fact 
was soon made known to Mr. Schwartze, who felt bound to 
see everything about the house in good repair, ran with an un- 
baked loaf of bread in his hands, clapped it on the crack in the 
stove and filled it up, thus stopping the smoke for the time be- 
ing. He returned to the kitchen congratulating himself upon 
his ingenuity in improvising so readily this cement. As soon 
as the stove became heated the dough baked and burned, thus 
causing a denser smoke than before, and the ladies were obliged 
to leave the room. Mrs. Ream, who was somewhat more prac- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, s 109 

tical in an emergency than the German cook, soon mixed 
another cement of salt, ashes and vinegar, which answered the 
purpose well, and the weary travelers were soon quite comfort- 
able in their room. 

" Not long after this, our Teutonic friend, having earned 
enough money to make a payment on his lot in Milwaukee, 
disposed of his kit of tools, left for his home in Milwaukee, 
and we worked our own way as usual. Our customers and pa- 
trons were not at all fastidious. They were satisfied with 
clean beds, good board and genteel- treatment, and this we al- 
ways provided to the fullest extent of our ability. There was 
by this time a large amount of travel through Madison, and 
some sixty or seventy men at work on the capitol. We boarded 
a large number of them, and our house was often crowded, so 
that floor room could not always be had at ' two pence per 
square foot,' and the difference between the bare puncheons 
and shakedown was, ' you pays your money and takes your, 
choice.' 

" We found it necessary to make many improvements to get 
along. The first of importance was sinking a well on the 
premises. When the shaft was excavated there could be no 
one found to build the wall, and I was obliged to do it myself. 
I used cobble stone, and made a good job it. Having met with 
success as a well-maker, I turned oven builder, and built an 
out-door bake oven of clay mixed with straw, which required 
the same kind of labor and material that caused the children of 
Israel to rebel against thejir taskmasters. The oven was a suc- 
cess also, and answered us and our neighbors until Frai^b: 
Shaw came from Mineral Point and started a bake shop across 
the street. Shaw was a genial Frenchman and full of fun. 
The building he occupied was about eighteen feet square, two 
stories high. The upper story was used as a lodging room, and 
the lower story as a bakery and grocery. We kept a temper- 
ance house, and Thais^'s grocery profited largely by it, as both 
bread and whisky could be had there on reasonable terms. 
"Thak" unabbreviated, means Nathais'Iel T. Parkii^sok, 
who was afterwards elected sheriff of the county, and held the 



110 HISTORY OF MADISON AlSD THE 

sheriif 's office in this bake-sliop grocery. There was as yet no 
prison in the county, and when the sheriff made- arrests or 
brought in prisoners, they were at once presented at the bar, 
treated, and placed in the care of Shaw as jailor, with orders 
to feed and treat them well; they were then put upon their 
parole, with orders to report themselves at the bar at least three 
times a day. It is but just to say that these prisoners rarely 
forfeited their parole, the kind and liberal treatment they re- 
ceived at the hands of the sheriff as well as their custodian 
Shaw, endeared them to these officers; and there was no 
grumbling or cutting down, or disputing sheriff's accounts in 
those primeval days. 

" CovALLE and Pelkie furnished us with daily supplies of 
fish from the lakes until we were sufficiently skilled in fishing 
to procure our own supplies. Shooting pickerel in the Catfish 
river soon came to be one of the grand sports of the time. 
When the fish ' run up ' they are shot in shoal water in large 
quantities, which is done by simply discharging your loaded 
piece at the fish; neither ball nor buckshot will penetrate the 
water over an inch or so, but the fish are stunned by the re- 
port and concussion of the water, and, in a twinkling, are on 
their backs and easily captured. Spearing fish was the next 
best sport, and many nights have I spent at the outlet of 
Fourth Lake when the channel was narrow, and a single log 
which was used for a footbridge spanned the stream, in spearing 
fish of almost every kind. The water was very clear, and with 
a good brush fire on both sides of tl;e stream, sufficient light 
was furnished to see all the fish as they swam by. From the 
foot bridge you could spear all you wanted. It was not an 
unusual thing for Ed. George and myself to return with our 
boat loaded to the water's edge with fish of many different 
kinds as the reward of one night's labor. Fishing with a spoon 
hook was also a favorite sport, and, when winter came, we 
fished with scoop nets through holes cut in the ice. In those 
days we always fished for fish — never for fun. 

" On the south side of Third Lake there is a small estuary or 
inlet from a spring. In approaching that inlet, one time, I 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. Ill 

espied a red fox near the water, on the lookout for game; being 
curions to know what he was after, I kept some distance where 
I could watch him unobserved. Suddenly he sprung into the 
water and hauled out a large pickerel, longer than himself, and 
commenced tearing it to pieces. On my approach, he disap- 
peared with a part of the fish in his mouth, which he had torn 
from his prey, leaving the back bone plainly exposed half its 
length, and the fish still alive, although high and dry out of 
water. That fox must have been hungry, for I had not gone 
far from the place, when I saw him stealthily retracing his 
steps to finish his meal. 

"During the summer of 1838, we had some very violent 
thunder storms in Madison. An Englishman named Warrein", 
employed in building the capitol, was killed by lightning near 
our house. Another serious accident of that summer was the 
falling from a scafi'old on the capitol, of a man named Gallard, 
who broke his leg. These men were boarding with us, and de- 
pendent upon us for nursing and attention as well as burial. 
Another boarder, named Simoj^s, was prostrated a long time 
with typhoid fever. In those times the duties of surgeons, 
physicians, nurses and undertakers, were only a few of the ex- 
tra duties which devolved upon the proprietors of public houses. 

" JoxATHAK BuTTERFiELD, of Topsham, Vermont, and his 
partner Piiq^i^EO, who carried on a shingle factory toward the 
Sugar Bush, were the kind of pioneers it necessarily takes to 
build up a new country. They were good workmen, and use- 
ful in their way, and when on a bender, they were the liveliest 
as well as the noisiest boys in the country. Near our house 
stood a large oak tree, the one under which Mr. Peck's family 
had camped when they first landed in Madison. This was a 
beautiful tree, valued for its shade as well as for its beauty and 
from association. Butterfield knew how we prized it, and 
when strapped, and his credit gone, his last resort was an on- 
slaught on this old tree with an axe, and the only condition on 
which he would stop from damaging it, was to give him an 
order on Nelsoi^'s or Thai^'s grocery. In this manner, to 
save the tree, we were repeatedly obliged to compromise with 



112 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

liim; tlien Pinneo came in for his share of the spoils. Some of 
the okl settlers of Madison will remember the time when 
PiNNEO, on a spree, without hat^ shoes, coat or vest, captured an 
old white horse which had been turned out on the common to 
recruit, mounted the animal bare-backed, minus bridle or hal- 
ter, in his right hand holding extended the jawbone of some 
defunct quadruped (either horse or ox), and proclaimed himself 
Sampson in quest of the Philistines, as he dashed through the 
most prominent streets of the town, creating a decided sensa- 
tion. There were then no police or constable to interfere with 
any kind of sport or amusement one chose to indulge in. 

"Another odd character of those da5'S Avas Baptiste, the 
half breed Frenchman, living with some Indians in the adjoin- 
ing woods, who had a natural propensity to possess himself of 
valuable articles, such as axes, handsaws, hammers, hatchets, 
shovels, etc., almost any articles for which we had daily use. He 
often came to know if we had lost anything, and if we hadj 
would at once commence negotiations for the missing article. 
His terms were from one half to two-thirds of its value. When 
the contract was concluded to his satisfaction, he would imme- 
diately go to camp and return Avith it, stating that some bad In- 
dian had stolen it. My wheelbarrow was valuable as well as very 
useful. It was made by a Milwaukee cabinet maker and cost 
me twelve or fifteen dollars. One day it disappeared. Bap- 
tiste had taken the precaution to ascertain its value before 
proposing terms for its surrender. We failed to agree on the 
price to be paid for its restoration, and I never saw my wheel- 
barrow again. 

" Impelled by purely philanthropic principles, we once un- 
dertook to civilize, Christianize and domesticate a wild Winne- 
bago Indian squaw, who answered to the euphonious name of 
Lenape. This young squaw was about thirteen years old when 
brought to us in the usual filthy Indian costume. After the 
ablution process had been performed, and the vermin extri- 
cated from her head, she was dressed in citizen's attire and 
really made an attractive figure. She was expected to assist In 
some domestic duties, and at first evinced quite a desire to 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 113 

learn, but the charm lasted but a few days, when she suddenly dis- 
appeared, and when next seen had donned her native costume^ 
and returned to her wild, roving indolent habits. 

" The Indians were very loth to leave their old fishing and 
hunting grounds in the vicinity of the lakes, and for several 
years hovered around in camps in the neighborhood of Madi- 
son, and it frequently happened after obtaining liquor, that 
they became very noisy and troublesome, particularly in their 
dexterous mode of thieving, which^ was almost equivalent tc 
professional slight of hand performances. 

" The following good story is told of Cal-i-ma-kee, an old 
Winnebago head chief, who was invited to Washington to ar- 
range some matters between his tribe and the Great Father. 
Cal-i-ma-nee was accompanied b}^ a second chief named Si^ake, 
During their absence from Wisconsin they had learned to talk 
some English, and had paid some attention to the rules of eti-' 
quette. When they returned they were furnished with new 
blankets, plenty of trinkets and money to pay their way home, 
also an order from the War Department on the commanding of- 
ficer at Fort Dearborn, Chicago, for two horses to carry them. 
They left Chicago in* grand style, the old man considerably in- 
flated with vanity and importance at the attention paid him, 
and we hear no more of them until they arrive at Blue Mounds, 
which place they reached about 'noon. Cal-i-ma-js'EE knew 
Beigham, for he was known by everybody in the country. The 
chief thought he had found a good opportunity to display the 
politeness as well as shrewdness he had learned from his pale 
face brothers on his recent tour to the National Capitol. Riding 
up to the house he accosted the old hero thus : " How! Howf 
Brigham." Then dismounting he presented his man S:n"ake, 
saying, " Brigham, Mr. S:n^ake;" "Mr. S:n^ake, Brigham.'^ 
Pointing to the house, he said, '^Brigham, dinner;" then to 
the stable, '' Brigham, horse, corn." " Big man, me." Mr. 
Brigham kept a bachelor's ranche and did his own cooking, 
but to expedite matters for his most important guests, he 
called in one of his workmen to aid in preparing dinner. Froni 
the manner in which they devoured the victuals it was consid- 



114: HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

ered doubtful whether they had broken fast between Chicago 
and Blue Mounds, a distance of over two hundred miles. After 
dinner, Cal-i-ma-j^ee called out, "Brigham, horse." The 
horses were brought, the Indians mounted, saying, " Brigham, 
good bye," and rode off at full speed. Mr. Brigham, finding 
himself badly sold, remarked to the bystanders that he thought 
they might have paid him something after putting him to so 
much trouble, especially as the chief had made a display of a 
quantity of silver coin furnished him by the Government to 
pay his expenses. 

" For many years the Winnebagoes had made the head of 
the Fourth Lake their winter camping grounds, from which lo- 
cality they sallied out in small parties for the purpose of fishing 
and hunting. Their camps were distributed around on the 
.streams in the vicinity. Sugar river was one of their favorite 
places of resort for game. 

" Mr. Brigham relates the following singular incident which 
took place some years before Madison was located. He — Mr. 
Brigham — happened to be at the camp at the time, which 
was situated on Sugar river crossing, near Grand Springs. 
An aged Indian became reduced by sickness and disease. He 
had the consumption and was failing rapidly. The medicine 
man of the camp had exhausted his best skill on the patient in 
vain. The chiefs of the tribes were summoned in consultation. 
The spirits were invoked, and an incantation held with them, 
accompanied by singing and dancing, and, when concluded, the 
-decision arrived at was, that the sick man must be removed to 
the headquarters at Four Lakes. The snow was about a foot 
deep at the time. Hunters were sent out to kill a buck, which 
they did, and brought into camp next day. The animal was 
carefully skinned by the squaws, and the invalid securely sewed 
np in the green buckskin and tied to the tail of a stout pony. 
In this manner he was dragged to the Four Lakes camp a dis- 
tance of about twenty miles. As the narrator did not accom- 
pany this novel expedition, he was unable to say whether the 
^subject so tenderly cared for was killed or cured. 

" After a few years the Indians were all removed from the vi- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 115 

cinity of Madison, by orders from the government, to tlieir res- 
ervation Vilest of the Mississippi, much to the relief of the citi- 
zens, for close contact with them soon removed every spark of 
the romance and poetry vrith which they had in our imagina- 
tions been surrounded from the reading of Cooper's novels, and 
other like literature. 

'' As yet there was little farming done or produce raised in 
Dane, and I was obliged to make sundry wagon trips to Green 
county, to procure butter, beef, pork, potatoes and other kinds 
of vegetables to keep our house going. There were then no 
bridges on the road to Monroe, and there was difficulty in 
crossing the streams. To be 'stuck' with a loaded wagon was 
a daily occurrence in almost every stream on the road. When 
'stuck,' it generally became necessary to carrj^ your load out on 
your back, or with your hands by piecemeal, deposit it on the 
further bank, then, with your horses hitched to the end of the 
wagon tongue, where they would most likely get dry footing, 
you ^must wade into the water waist deep with a sapling to 
pry out the wheels: by this means, with considerable language 
more expressive than elegant, directed especially at your horses, 
you reach dry ground and then re-load; but when your stock 
consisted of potatoes and turnips in bulk, and you had nothing 
but a wooden bucket at your service with which to transfer 
your load, jou can imagine the amount of philosophy it re- 
quired to do this good naturedly, and more especially in a wet 
or rainy day, and the probabilities very strong that you would 
have to repeat the process at the next stream. 

"I shall always remember one particular occasion on which 
I was returning from one of these periodical trips. After much 
persuasion, I had induced my good sister, Mrs. McFaddex, of 
Grand Springs, to fill a patent pail with choice fresh l)utter, 
which I carefully stowed away in the back part of m}^ well- 
loaded wagon. Any one living in Madison at that time may 
possibly realize the value of a bucket of nice dairy butter. 
The owner would be envied by all his neighbors for being the 
fortunate possessor of such a prize. I drove along happy at 
the thought of being able to cater to m}^ guests to the envy 



116 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

and jealousy of others, and enjoying in anticipation the wel- 
come I would receive on reaching home with it. But, before 
long, I experienced the sad truth of the old rhyme, 

* 'Twixt cup and lip there's many a slip.' 

There were many boulders and deep ruts in the road, the wagon 
jolted and the bucket of butter rolled out, I driving carelessly 
on, unconscious of my loss. I had traveled some four or five 
miles before I missed my treasure. As soon as I made the dis- 
covery I unharnessed one of my horses, mounted him bare- 
backed, and went back at a cantering speed, and reached the 
ill-fated spot where I had met the sad misfortune, just in time 
to scare ofP a pack of wolves that had not only devoured the 
entire contents of the bucket, but had actually eaten the 
greater part of the bucket itself, it had become so impregnated 
with the golden butter. 

" We were very much troubled for help during the first year 
of our sojourn in Madison. To spend four or five days in tra- 
versing Rock and Green counties in search of a cook or cham- 
bermaid, and return without one, and be compelled to turn in 
and assist in doing your own cooking, and make your own bed, 
required the cultivation of much patience and fortitude, which 
bordered on genuine heroism. 

" To provide for the winter I had a large quantity of hay cut 
on the marsh east of the capitol, between the lakes. The 
grass was best at the lower end of the marsh, but the surface 
was so underlaid with quicksand, although it would support a 
man it would not an animal. After the hay was made we 
found we could not approach it either with horse or ox teams. 
We overcame the difficulty by placing crates or racks on two 
long poles fastened together in style of a stretcher or hand- 
barrow, and fastened clapboards to the bottoms of the boots of 
the carriers, who could then carry out large loads, and thus we 
saved our crop. 

" During the summer of 1838, a two-horse stage line was 
put in operation from Mineral Point to Madison, owned by Col. 
Ab. Nichols. The distance was about fifty miles, and the only 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 117 

post offices Oil the route were Dodgeville, Ridge way and Blue 
Mounds; the latter point was made the midway or half-way 
house, where passengers and horses were fed on the way. The 
line was afterwards extended to Fort Winnebago, and Rowajs^'s 
made a stopping place on the route. At Madison we enter- 
tained all the stage passengers and most of the drivers. With 
the latter we always kept on good terms, and were often under 
obligations to them for kind favors in bringing our supplies of 
groceries and other things from the ' Pint,' or ' Shake-rag,' as 
they called it. 

" Tom Haney drove in the first stage from the Point. He 
kep this, head quarters at the ' Worser,' in which the stage pro- 
prietor was interested. Tom was a good friend of ours, a hail 
fellow, exceedingly obliging and accommodating. He had and 
deserved many friends. In extending the stage line to Fort 
W^innebago, a span of extra horses were required at Madison, 
and it was arranged that Tom Hakey should bring them 
through one at a time. Accordingly one extra horse was duly 
entered on the way bill with orders for the proprietors of the 
stage house in Madison to take charge of the animal, and look 
out for another by the next stage. Tom set out as usual with 
his stage load of passengers from Mineral Point, and the extra 
horse lashed to the hind axle-tree with a stout windlass or well 
rope. All went well and smoothly — Dodgeville, Ridgeway 
and the Mounds were all left in the distance. Nine Mile Prairie 
was passed and the woods entered. Some distance this side of 
the Prairie there is quite a descent from a high rolling plateau 
down into the valley, which is nearly on a level with the 
Lakes. The slope is not steep but gradual. The rains had 
washed the ruts so that it became necessary to make another 
track on the hill side. These tracks diverged in the valley at 
the base of the hill in the shape of a letter Y, and about half 
way up the hill formed a junction similar to the V reversed or 
the letter A without the bar. In the junction, or the apex of 
A, stood an oak tree. Usually there is nothing significant in 
an oak tree, especially when the surrounding forest is com- 
posed of oak trees. They may stand on either side of the road 



118 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

or beween the two roads, they are simply forest trees placed 
where they are by Providence, subservient to the use of man, 
but this one placed at the forks of this road had its mission to 
perform, as we will soon see. Persons accustomed to traveling 
in stage coaches know that when a the driver approach a city, 
a station or even a postoffice, they resort to fast driving. Tom 
HAiiTEY was not behind his fellow Jehus in that line. Now, 
having reached the brow of the hill, instead of putting on the 
brakes and driving down slowly, as careful drivers should have 
done, he started his team with a yell and crack of his whip and 
came rattling down at full speed, the stage taking the road on 
one side of the tree and the extra horse the road on the other. 
The rope brought the horse with such sudden force against 
the tree as to break his neck. The extra horse was not 
receipted for, nor was the other sent by the next stage. When 
Han^ey reached Madison his feelings were something akin to 
those of your humble servant when he found the wolves had 
devoured his butter rolls. 

"Extravagancies such as this, with many other unforseen 
mishaps and direlections of drivers, created the necessity of 
placing agents upon the route. The first agent, or superin- 
tendent rather, of this two horse enterprise, was Jonathan" 
Taylor, accompanied by a tall, lean, lank Kentuckian, whom 
he introduced as Mica j ah Tha^cher, a new driver. We found 
Thacher a most obliging fellow, well posted in horse flesh, as 
drivers generally are. Mr. Taylor hailed from Wabash, Indi- 
ana, a noble specimen of a Hoosier, remarkably good looking 
and generous to a fault. Although somewhat deficient in 
education he was possessed of good hard sense, and a remark- 
able knowledge of men and the world. He was very shrewd 
at a trade and soon evinced fine business qualities, which, with 
his kind heart and frank, open countenance, made him very 
popular. He quartered with us and an attachment for our 
family soon sprung up, and he remained with us nearly ten 
years. After the stage line passed from Uncle Ab's hands, Mr. 
Taylor commenced the world with a two horse team pur- 
chased on credit. He hauled goods from Chicago and Mil- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 119' 

waukee to Madison, and in the winter season brought sled 
loads of Mackinaw trout from Green Bay, carried them to the 
Point and Galena, returning with articles needed at Madison, 
Fort Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Green Bay. I have not 
time to follow his career, sufficient to say he prospered, and now 
lives on Fifth Avenue in New York city and counts his wealth 
by hundreds of thousands. 

" Being desirous of adding something useful to the Capital 
city in the way of domestic animals, I brought some fine- 
shoats from Green county — the first brought to Madison. 
They thrived well and increased rapidly in numbers. When 
autumn came and acorns were plenty, I turned them out to 
forage for themselves. The drove wandered down to the lake 
shores, and when I thought them in a sufficiently good con- 
ition to kill, I undertook to drive them home, but to my utter 
astonishment I found them perfectly wild; they would neither 
be led, driven or coralled. So hunting parties were made up- 
and my beautiful porkers were hunted down with dogs, shot 
and captured as wild game, and once more we had to depend 
on Green county for supplies for the winter. Col. Dakiel 
Baxter furnished us a great deal of acceptable produce that 
winter. 

" The next season I procured some pigs of a more domestic 
breed, and kept them penned close to my house near to the 
old cabins, but in spite of neighbors' dogs and all tht care I 
could bestow on them, they were carried off by the prairie- 
wolves. 

" The wolves continued to annoy the people of Madison very 
greatly until we petitioned the county authorities to pass au 
order fixing a bounty on their scalps. The Board of Com- 
missioners finally yielded to this request and established a 
bounty. A wolf hunter soon turned up in the person of Wil- 
liam Lawrence. He undertook to catch them with steel 
traps, but as ' their name was legion,' he found that process 
entirely too slow and resorted to poison. By a skillful dis- 
tribution of strychnine, he succeeded in soon bringing in a 
large number of scalps and leaving a large number of their 



X20 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

carcasses on tlie town site, and in this manner a quietus was 
placed upon their further depredations and annoyances. 

" In the fall of 1838, the first session of the Territorial Legis- 
lature was held at Madison, and with it came crowds of people. 
The public houses were literally crammed — shake downs were 
looked upon as a luxury, and lucky was the guest considered 
whose good fortune it was to rest his weary limbs on a straw 
or hay mattress. We hired some feather beds from Mr. Nute 
of Jefferson county and paid ten dollars in advance for the use 
of each during the session. 

" Among our boarders that winter I remember the names of 
the following members of the Legislature: Col. James Max- 
well and 0. Beardsley of Walworth county, Morgan" L. 
Martii^ and Alex. J. iRWiiq- of Brown county. Then there 
were Bei^. C. Eastmai^, Joseph G. Knapp, Peter B. Grignok, 
Theodore Green^ of Green Bay^ who officiated as clerks, re- 
i:>orters, etc., of the Legislature. Mr. Kkapp says these were 
the 'aristocracy of Wisconsin.' We thought so too and 
treated them as such. 

" We had then no theatres or any places of amusement, 
and the long winter evenings were spent in playing various 
games of cards, checkers and backgammon. Dancing was also 
much in vogue. Col. Maxwell was very gay, and discoursed 
sweet music on the flute, and Be:n". C. Eastmak was an expert 
Tiolinist. They two furnished the music for many a French 
four, cotillon, Virginia reel and jig, that took place on the pun- 
cheon floors of the old log cabins, that were enjoyed, probably, 
^uite as much as are now the round dances and Germans on 
the waxed floors of fashionable dancing halls, to the witching 
strains of Dodsworth's fine band. Want of ceremony, fine 
dress, classic music and other evidences of present society life, 
never deterred us from enjoying ourselves those long winter 
.evenings. 

" Log cabins stand no chance in competition with new fash- 
ionable hotels — rivals of Delmoi^ico's, Fifth Avenue and the 
Grand Central — not that patrons fared any better than at the 
cabins, but ''the aristocracy," the unerring barometer of the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 121 

in all countries and in all places, soon gave convincing proofs 
of the decline of business, and that shakedowns were no more 
necessary and puncheon floors absolutely vulgar, then, in our 
anguish of soul, in the language of Othello, we found our ' oc- 
cupation gone;' and as we were Micawber-like 'waiting for 
something to turn up,' the mail, a much rarer visitor then than 
now, brought us a letter enclosing an agreeable surprise, which 
ivas nothing more nor less than a commission from Governor 
Dodge, appointing me to the office of Treasurer of the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin. This was done at the instance of our good 
friend ' Uncle Ab.,' of the ' Point,' without our knowledge. 
The salary was fixed at sixty dollars per annum, and no steal- 
ings. I accepted, gave bonds, entered upon the duties of, and 
continued acting as such officer, until my bond mysteriously 
disappeared from the archives of the executive department. 
By this act of prestigitation, I was teetotally cleaned out and 
exterminated from the high and honorable position as Treas- 
urer. I have not the slightest recollection of a single dollar of 
money ever passing through my hands as disbursing officer of 
the Territory, yet some important financial paper transactions 
took place. The issuing of the Baxter bonds to complete the 
capitol were perhaps as important as any. These Avere signed 
b}' your humble servant as Treasurer, and countersigned by N. 
C. Pkentiss as Commissioner of Public Buildings. They were 
issued on fine paper, and passed current in Chicago. 

''In the meantime, Dane county was organized according to 
the laws of the Territory. At the first election, in 1839, I was 
put in nomination for the office of Register of Deeds. We 
had then no party politics to influence and control elections. 
My competitor, Darwi:n^ Clark, was considered a good man. 
He came to Madison with Bird's party of laborers to work on 
the capitol, had shared their hardships, toiled with them, and 
claimed their votes, whilst I had come there with my family to 
reside as a citizen. I was the candidate of the resident popula- 
tion, and was sustained by them. We both ran on our merits 
and good standing in the community. We canvassed the 
county fairly, honorably and without the slightest attempt at 
9 



122 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

disparagement of each other. No canvass could have been 
more fairly or honorably made. After the canvassing, I re- 
ported to my friends that I would be elected by a majority of 
one. I was advised to re-canvass, which I did as thoroughly as 
before, and arrived at the same result. It was insisted that I 
should use means to turn some of my opponent's votes in my 
favor. This I positively refused to do, stating that I would 
rather be defeated than resort to anything underhanded to ob- 
tain my election. I was perfectly willing to risk my election 
with a plurality of a single vote. On counting the votes after 
the poll, I found myself elected by a majority of two votes, 
which much surprised me and remained a mystery until some 
time after, when a friend explained to me, after exacting a 
promise of secrecy on my part, that the extra vote was ob- 
tained by strategy to make my election sure. 

'^ Dane county is composed of what was originally a part of 
the counties of Milwaukee, Brown and Iowa. The titles to 
the lands lying Avithin these counties had been recorded in the 
original counties. Under an act of the Territorial Legislature, 
it became my duty, as Register of Deeds, to have these records 
transcribed for the use of Dane county. In the prosecution of 
these labors, I visited Milwaukee and Green Bay on horseback, 
and made arrangement for the transcripts of those portions of 
the records necessary. In the county of Iowa I did the tran- 
scribing myself, often working twelve, fourteen, and sometimes 
sixteen, hours a day. This work was well and satisfactorily 
done. No more than ordinary (and I think less), fees were 
paid for this work in county scrip, and nothing for expenses of 
travel, so that no money was made by the operation. At the 
next election I was nominated for reelection, but this time 
more than one vote was covered by strategy on the other side, 
and I was defeated by a small majority. 

" On a beautiful Sunday morning, when the religious com- 
munity of Madison were assembled in the Representative Hall 
m the capitol, attending divine service, a servant came hastily 
from the American House to the door of the Hall, and inquired 
for Dr. Lull, who was called out with Mr. Fake, the landlord 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 123 

of the hotel. On perceiving them hurrying across the park, 
Mr. Sholes and myself, with several others, followed and over- 
took them as they reached the house, where we were informed 
that Mr. Dui^coMB, one of the guests, had locked himself in 
his room, stood up before the mirror, and deliberately cut his 
throat with a razor, the act having been witnessed by a servant 
in the backyard, through the windows, which were open. We 
were not long in forcing the door open, when, to our horror, 
we saw this man Duncomb standing on the floor with his 
throat cut from ear to ear, the bloody instrument still in his 
hand, which was instantly wrested from him. Both main arte- 
ries and the windpipe had been severed. He looked like a mad- 
man. The sight was awful. Mr. Fake fainted. Those most 
resolute took hold of the man all covered with blood, whick 
was still flowing from his throat and gashes in his arms, and 
laid him on the floor, where it took the united strength of four 
men to keep him. He could not speak, but wrote with a pen- 
cil on paper, ^all I tvant is to see my wife^ which dying request 
could not be granted. The scene is as vivid in my mind as if 
it had happened yesterday. He had been observed to act. 
strangely in the morning, and tried to persuade his wife not to 
go to church, but she feared to remain with him. 

" It was discovered that he had cut the arteries of both arms 
and had written his name on the walls of his room with his 
finger dipped in his own blood, and had broken open his wife's 
trunk and sprinkled her clothes with it, and scattered them 
over the floor. He expired in about twenty minutes after we 
entered the room. Jealousy was the only cause ever assigned 
for the dreadful deed, and it was considered very fortunate his 
wife had absented herself, or in his frenzy he would probably 
have murdered her also. 

" Our good neighbor, Mr. Rasdall, once owned a valuable 
gray horse, but from long usage and old age, the animal 
became useless, and was turned out to browse; when through 
with life's weary Tianderings, he had reached that period so 
graphically expressed in the song of the departed soldier : 

* Old fellow, vou've played out your time/ , 



124: HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

lie liied himself to the summit of an elevated knoll of 
ground on the Third Lake shore, in a southwesterly direction 
from our house, and there, in full hearing of the melancholy 
murmurings of the waters, as the waves rolled against the 
shores, he laid himself down and gave up the ghost; the soft 
and balmy breezes from that direction, not exactly perfumed 
with the rose or lavender, gave us timely warning thereof. 
Scavengers, there were yet none, and in the absence of other 
or better authorities, we engaged some boys to perform the act 
of cremation on this defunct quadruped. A^funeral pyre of dry 
brush was built over the subject and the torch applied, this 
ended only in smoke; another, and another fire of the same 
material caused a denser smoke, perfumed with unambrosial 
odor; finding our first experiment at cremation proving a total 
failure, we caused a pit to be dug, and the unconsumed remains 
of the horse, with the smouldering ashes, to be swept therein 
and covered up, when the air soon became purified. This spot 
was for a long time protected by a flag stafi" and penant erected 
there by the boys of the village, who also buried sundry favorite 
dogs and cats on the same ground, always with a procession 
and military honors ; they called it the hecatombs. 

" Father QuAW, a very clever old gentleman, made his first 
appearance in black, he was the advance guard of the clergy — 
a Presbyterian, hailing from the British Provinces. After- 
wards, the highly esteemed Bishop Kempee visited Madison, 
and organized an Episcopal Church there. It will by found 
by the records of that church, that I was appointed a vestry- 
man of that organization. I was also pressed into service 
as the leader of singing choirs at religious meetings of all 
kinds and in all places, and it was understood that my house 
was open and free to all traveling clergymen, of any and all 
denominations, and there were not a few who availed them- 
selves of this information. 

" The foregoing reminiscences of transactions occurred dur- 
ing the second and third years of my residence in Wisconsin 
(my first year was spent in Green county); most of these scenes 
transpired more than thirty-five years since, whilst many, 
very many others have passed entirely from my memory." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 125 



CHAPTER IV. 

Dane County Affaiks, 1840 — Protestant Episcopal Church un- 
der Rev. W. Philo — National Anniversary, 1840 — Congrega- 
tional Church Organization — Settlers, 1840 — Rev. Dr. A. 
Brunson's First Visit — Improvements, 1841 — Dane County 
Residents, 1841 — Schools — Killing of Hon. C. C. Arndt — 
Newspapers, 1842-5 — Visit of J. A. Brown and Dr. Goodhue — 
Census, 1843 — Kentucky House — Madison, 1843 — Newspapers 
— Improvements : Schools, 1844-5 — Madison Lodge of Free 
AND Accepted Masons — Protestant Episcopal Church History 
continued — Naratives of R. W. Lansing and H. A. Tenney. 

The year 1840 commenced under as favorable auspices as 
could have been expected. The attention of the settlers was 
early drawn to the necessity of public improvements, and 
social and religious privileges. As will be seen, two church 
organizations were established, a select school opened and also 
a debating club. Madison was then an isolated place, and 
while the lands adjoining were rich and productive, there was 
no cash market, and produce hardly paid the expense of trans- 
portation to the Lake ports. There was no scarcity of eatables^ 
as fish and wild game were abundant, but not much to pur- 
chase articles of necessarj^ expenditure. 

On the 14th of January, 1840, the County Commissioners, 
Ebek Peck, Simeon" Mills and Jere. Lycan", made a report of 
the receipts and disbursements of Dane county, from the time 
of its organization to that date. As a matter of interest, this, 
the first report of Dane county is given: 

Dr. 

To amount paid out for the survey and location of 

roads, ...... $177 00 

To amount paid out for books and stationery, - 337 51 

To amount paid out for furniture and office rent, - 190 25 



126 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

To amount paid out for printing blanks and adver- 
tising, - - - - - - 67 25 

To amount paid out on contract for building jail, i)239 56 

To amount of expenses for October term of district 
court, elections, cost of assessment, fees of officers, 
bounty on wolves, expenses of criminal prosecu- 
tions, coroner's inquests, etc., - _ - g-^Q 17 

Total expenses for the county, - $2,949 74 

Cr. 

By amount of taxes paid into the county treasury 

for county purposes, - - - - $2 , 184 41 

By amount of taxes for school purposes, - - 393 13 

By amount for fines, - - - - - 5 00 

By amount for tavern license, - - - 20 00 

By amount for grocery license, . - - 100 00 

Balance due the county treasurer on settlement, 55 96 

Total amount of receipts. 
Deduct the amount due the Territory, 

Deduct treasurer's fees, 

— 218 78 

2,539 78 



- 


$2 


>758 


50 


$164 70 








54 02 




218 


78 





Balance against the county, - - . . $409 96 



In the spring of this year, definite action was taken for the 
organization of the Episcopal church, the preliminary steps 
for which, had been taken the year before. 

Rev. Washington Philo, a minister of that church, on the 
9th of March, addressed a letter to the " Gospel Messenger^^'' in 
which he gives an account of the meeting held to organize the 
same. This valuable letter is as follows: 

*' To the Editor of the Gospel Messenger: 

'' Madison, Wis., March 9, 1840. 
"Rev. Sir: Whatever relates to the prosperity and exten- 
sion of our Zion, can never be uninteresting to devout and con- 
sistent churchmen. I therefore send you a brief extract of the 
minutes of the proceedings of the citizens of this town, con- 
vened at the Capitol, for the purpose of organizing a Protest- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. W( 

ant Episcopal Church, on the 8th inst. The Rev. W. Philo 
presided: and after the object of the meeting was stated by 
him, and some few remarks made by VV. T. Sterling, J. A. 
Nooi^AK and others; on motion of Johk Catlin", Esq., Thos. 
W. SuTHERLAi^D, Esq., was chosen secretary of the meeting. 
The names of the gentlemen present, entitled to vote by the 
rules of the society and disposed to act, were then recorded in 
the minutes.* 

" On motion of J. Catlijt, Esq., 

" Besolved^ That this meeting do now proceed to elect the 
Wardens and Vestrymen by ballot. 

" Whereupon, the votes being taken and counted, it appeared 
that the following gentlemen were duly elected: 

" WARDEi^ — JOHK CaTLIN", Esq. 

'' Vestrymei^— Hon. Wm. B. Slaughter, Josiah A. Nookak, 
Mr. David Hyer, Mr. George Hyer, Mr. P. W. Matts, Hon. 
Ebenezer Brigham, Mr. R. L. Ream, Mr. Edward Campbell. 

" It was then moved, seconded and enacted that the time of 
service shall expire annually, hereafter, upon Monday in Easter 
week. 

" The chair then proposed, and J. A. NooKAi^, Esq., seconded 
the proposition, and the meeting enacted, that this society shal 
be known and designated as the " Apostolic Church." 

" The minutes then being signed by the chairman and the 
secretary, the society adjourned. 

" Our friends in the East may see by the above, and other 
like demonstration, that their brethren in the Far West are not 
idle; but are doing what they can for God and the church. And 
if we do not exhibit that augmented increase in our numbers 
that our brethren do in the East, it is because the Far West is 
newer, the population more sparse, and demoralizing influence 
more inveterate. The church in this station has obtained a 
good beginning, for a place so new, changing, and of such a 
diversity of religious opinions. It is not, I believe, quite three 
years since the first dwelling was erected. Some families re- 

*The names of the persons were: David Hyer, John Cathn, J. A. 
Noonan, P. W. Matts and Adam Smith. 



128 HISTORY OF MADISON AJSD THE 

main in town but a few weeks, and others a few months, till 
they can conveniently settle on farms in the country. The in- 
habitants now here are mostly from the east, and have brought 
with them (as is generally the case), their old religious notions 
and prejudices; and among them are those who belonged to as 
many as six different denominations. But there were, when I 
came, but two communicants of the church, and but two or 
three others acquainted with our truly excellent liturgy. It is 
our sincere and earnest prayer to Almighty God, that He, of 
His bountiful goodness, would prosper these feeble beginnings, 
and further them to his own glory, evangelical piety and per- 
manent, primitive and apostolic principles and usages. W. P.'* 

Mrs. Heis^ry Fake and Mrs. David Hyer were church mem- 
bers. Religious services were held in the old capitol building, 
Rev. W. Philo having been engaged, as stated, clergyman. 

In a number of the Wisconsin Express we find a notice that 
on Christmas evening, 1840, a donation party was held at the 
house of Rev. Mr. Philo, the Episcopal church missionary, 
which was well attended, and many presents bestowed on the 
worthy minister. 

Mr. Philo preached at Madison for about a year, and was 
succeeded by Rev. Richard F. Cadle, formerly of Green Bay, 
who supplied the church for a time. The further history of 
this church will be continued hereafter. 

The Fourth of July^ says the " Express^^'' passed off here in 
a very peaceable and quiet way, although attended with every 
demonstration which its recurrence is calculated to call forth 
on the part of a moral and religious, and yet patriotic people. 
We had no party political celebration — no Tippecanoe gath- 
ering — no drinking of " hard cider," and " harder brandy," 
which doubtless were the order of the day in most parts of our 
country, but we had a very orderly, and of course very respect- 
able, little assembly of citizens at the Capitol, where, after re- 
ligious services by the Rev. W. Philo, the Declaration of In- 
dependence was read by T. W. Sutherlan^d, Esq., in a manner 
highly creditable to himself, and a very appropriate and impres- 
sive oration delivered by the Rev. Mr. Slikgerland. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 129^ 

Miss Pierce advertised, April 11, 1840, that the second term 
of her school for young misses would commence on the first 
Monday in May. 

J. S. Nicholas, of Baltimore, Md., advertised to sell at auc- 
tion, on the 4th of June, 14,000 acres of land in Dane county. 

The " Madison Express " of July 18, complains that wheat 
only brings fifty cents per bushel, and that it is often dealt out 
to hogs and cattle for want of sale. We note that on the 4th 
of September, Wm. N. Seymour and Julius T. ^Claek had 
formed a law partnership and law agency. 

The Madison Lyceum had weekly meetings for debate, during 
the year, and on one occasion, in May, the subject was 
whether it was desirable for Wisconsin to claim admittance 
into the Union as a state, if she obtains jurisdiction of the 
disputed territory. 

La Fayette Kellogg, Esq.,* a well known citizen of this 
place, was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court of the Terri- 
tory, on the 11th day of August, 1850. Mr. Kellogg has re- 
tained the same office, with a short intermission, to the present- 
time, 1874. 

On the 4tli of October, 1840, nine persons united themselves 
in an organization as a Christian church in Madison. It was 

* La Fayette Kellogg, Esq., son of Rowland Kellogg and his wife Sarah 
Titus, was born at Elizabethtown, Essex County, New York, and was ed-- 
ucated at the same place. Came west in 1838, and spent nearly a year in 
the lead mines at Mineral Point, and returned to Madison in the summer 
of 1839 — ^^^^ several town and county offices until August 11, 1840, when 
he was appointed clerk of the supreme court of the Territory, which office- 
he held until the State Government was organized, when from continued 
ill health he was obliged to give up all kinds of business until December,- 
1851, when his health having improved, he again took charge of the office as 
Deputy Clerk, and discharged the duties of the same until the organiza- 
tion of the separate Supreme Court in June 1853, when he was again ap- 
pointed clerk, and has held that office to the present time, (1874.) ^^ ^"^^^ 
also elected chief clerk of the House of Representatives at its session in 
1845, and was re-elected at the session of 1846, 1847 and 1848, and was al- 
so elected Secretary of the first convention to frame a constitution for thc 
then future State of Wisconsin, which constitution was rejected by a vote-' 
of the people on the first Tuesday of April, 1847. 



130 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

almost, if not really the planting of a church in the wilderness. 
At the time of its organization, there was no other except the 
Episcopal, within fifty miles in any direction. The church was 
£)rganized in what was the Library and Court Room of the old 
capitol, under the direction of Rev. Elbert Slikgerland, a mis- 
sionary of the Reformed Dutch Church. Twelve communi- 
cants partook of the Sacrament. In spirit it was a Congrega- 
tional church from the first; but in compliance with the wish- 
-es of the first pastor, it took the name of the " Dutch Reformed 
Church," adopting it with the provision that the form and con- 
nection might be changed when a majority o± the members de- 
sired it. Besides the minister, there was but one ofiicer in the 
church, a ruling elder, and that ofiice was conferred on David 
Brigham, Esq. Mr. Slin-gerlai^d preached from June, 1840, 
to June 1841. On the 13th of June, 1811, in order to connect 
itself with the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of 
Wisconsin, by an unanimous vote of all the members then res- 
ident here, the church adopted the name of the Congregational 
€hurch in Madison, and resolved thenceforth '^ to be governed 
and regulated by the established rules of such churches as were 
then known in the Territory." Mr. David Brigham was 
chosen Deacon and Clerk of the Church under the new arrang- 
ment. The following persons were members at this time, and 
as all but one of them partook of the first communion referred 
to, they may be considered original members: David Brigham, 
Mrs. E. F. Brigham, W. N. Seymour, Mrs. A. M. Seymour, 
Mrs. M. A. Morrison, Mrs. E. Wyman, Mrs. C. R. Pierce, 
Mrs. A. Catlin, Mrs. Slingerland. Rev. J. M. Clark, of 
Kentucky, then took charge of the church, and preached here 
till July, 1813; and was succeeded by Rev. S. E. Miner, of 
New York, who began preaching under the auspices of the 
Home Missionary Society; at this time the church had no set- 
tled place of worship, and some efPorts were made to erect a 
church building. For a time, they worshipped in the old cap- 
itol, occupying alternately with two or three other denomina- 
tions. Then they obtained the use of a log house, the old 
:building erected by Mr. Eben Peck, and known as the " first 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 131 

liouse built in Madison," and met tlier-e for some time. The 
erection of a new barn, sometime after seemed to offer such 
superior and attractive accommodations, that the little church 
made this its temple, and " Christianity went back to the stable 
in which it had its origin." After great effort and self sacri- 
fice, subscriptions were received to encourage them to build a 
house of worship. The building was erected on lot 10, block 
108, on Webster street, and was dedicated in 1846. P. H. Van 
Bergen was builder. It was built of wood, with seats for 250 
persons, and cost about ^1,800. In October, 1846, Mr. Minee, 
resigned his pastorate. He was succeeded October 20, 1816, by 
Rev. Chas. Lord, * of Independence, Missouri, who was in- 
stalled October 20, 1852, by advice of an Ecclesiastical Council, 
and the church became self-supporting. Mr. Lord, was pastor 
of the church until the spring of 1851, when owing to infirm- 
ity of the eyes he was obliged to resign. He was succeeded in 
1855, by Rev. N. H. Eggleston, of Plymouth church, Chicago. 

The further history of this church will be resumed hereafter. 

In connection with the above history, the following account 
of the first steps taken towards the organization, will be found 
interesting : 

Rev. Mr. Slingerland, on the 1st of November, 1810, wrote 
a letter to Rev. B. C. Taylor, the Secretary of the Board of 
Missions of the Reformed Dutch Church, which was published 
in the New York Christian Intelligencer^ the organ of that de- 

* Rev. Charles Lord was a son of Rev. Henry and Fidelia (Graves) Lord 
and was born at Williamsburg, Hampshire county, Massachuetts, January 
27, 1816. He graduated at Amherst College, 1838; Andover Theological 
Seminary, 1842; ordained at Booneville, Mo., October, 1841 ; Home Mis- 
sionary in Missouri and Wisconsin, eight years; installed at Madison, Wis- 
consin, October 20, 1852; dismissed May 8, 1854; installed over Second 
Church Whateley, Massachusetts, March 20, 1S56; dismissed June 14, i860; 
installed at Buckland, Massachusetts, i860. He married August 30, 1843, 
Clarissa Lois Wright, daughter of Luther and Sarah Wright of East Hamp- 
ton, Massachusetts, by whom he has had three children; viz: Sarah D., 
born March 29, 1845, married Robert B. Hall of Brooklyn, New York; 
AHce C, born July and died July 1853, ^"<^ Henry C, born October 14, 
1854. Rev. Mr. Lord died at the residence of his daughter, March 28, 
1872, in the 57th year of his age. 



132 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

nomination, in which he gives an account of the organization 
of the church at Madison, and his ministerial labors in the ad- 
jacent country, with an interesting account of the Territory of 
Wisconsin, the state of society, and the adaptation of the 
country for settlement. His letter is lengthy — the following 
extracts are taken from it: 

" It is with great pleasure that I transmit to you an account 
of my mission since August 1. I feel deeply indebted to the 
Providence of God for preserving both my family and myself 
in the enjoyment of health, which, of all earthly blessings, is 
' Heaven's best gift to man.' 

" During this quarter, I have preached at Madison every al- 
ternate Sabbath, and the rest of the time in the vicinity. On 
the morning of the 4th ult., we consummated the organization 
of a church at this place, with two male and seven female 
members, which number we hope to enlarge at our next com- 
munion. I dispensed, upon this occasion, the ordinance of the 
Lord's Supper, and feel assured that all the services were duly 
appreciated by this infant church. Some professors from 
abroad, members of the Presbyterian Church, being present, 
commemorated with us the death of our common Lord. In 
the evening, the ordinance of baptism was administered to an 
infant of one of our members. 

" I am happy to state that we have a good attendance upon 
the Sabbath, and also upon all the appointments made in my 
former report. In the month of August, during an extra ses- 
sion of the Legislature of this Territory, I called a meeting, 
the object of which was to obtain a history of the rise and 
progress of churches in different parts of the Territory. The 
meeting was well attended, and of great interest. It appeared 
that many churches which were formed of the fewest possible 
materials, have grown into considerable influence, and are now 
exerting themselves in the most laudable manner in promoting 
the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. It appeared also 
that revivals of religion had been enjoyed during the past 
year in several places, particularly at Prairie Village, near Mil- 
waukee, at Racine, and at Platteville, in Grant county. 



FOUB LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 133 

"I have twice visited Prairie du Sac, a settlement beautifully 
located on the borders of the Wisconsin river, some thirty 
miles northwest of Madison. Besides preaching here, I, by a 
special request, delivered a temperance address to a very atten- 
tive audience. I am, however, uncertain whether we will be 
able to succeed at this place in effecting the organization of a 
church, as several of the inhabitants, being Presbyterians, are 
strongly prejudiced in favor of this sister denomination. 

'' I have hitherto continued, and design to continue my ser- 
vices at Sun Prairie, a settlement twelve miles northeast from 
this place. This part of the country is admirably adapted for 
a dense population, and is now growing rapidly. The people 
here are very anxious to enjoy the preached gospel; and, so far 
as I have been able to ascertain, they constitute a moral popu- 
lation. Several heads of families are members of different 
churches; and how far time may accomplish unity of feeling 
in regard to their views of religion, remains to be developed. 

" It is expected that in my first reports I should give a de- 
tailed account of men and things as I find them, for the infor- 
mation of our friends at the east. It is due to this community 
to state that intemperance does not prevail here to the same 
extent that it does in New York; while profanity and Sabbath 
breaking are prevailing vices — at least in many places. * * 

'^I have already received several communications from my 
friends at the east. I expect many of them will emigrate in 
the spring. Thus materials for new organizations will be fur- 
nished, and as time rolls on, treasures of moral worth and true 
piety will enrich and gladden our land. I hope we may have 
3^our constant prayers, that the Great Head of the Church 
would make us doubly useful, not only in promoting the ex- 
ternal order of the Church, but especially in the conversion of 
souls. I am, respectfully yours in the Lord, 

"Elbekt Slij^-gerlan-d." 

On the 26th of November, Abi^ter Nichols and J. George 
advertised that they had opened the Madison Exchange on 
Doty's corner, between the American and Madison Hotels, and 
had purchased a splendid billiard table, etc., and that gentlemen 



13i HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

annoyed by the growl of the "Tiger" could find comfortable 
accommodations at the Exchange, where " Uncle George " 
would at all times be in readiness to attend to their wants. 

The following persons, it is believed, came here in 1840: 
Edwakd Campbell, Andrus Viall, Daniel Baxter, J. A^ 

Clark, E. Quivey, Leonard, George Hyer, Chiuncey 

Leland, Daniel M. Holt, Jacob George, Elias J. Willie MSy 
Geo. Trumbull, N. A. Webb, Wm. Hoadly, E. S. Searles^ 
Julius T. Clark, A. Botkin, Rev. Washington Philo, John- 
son J. Starks, Henry Gullion, John Mallo. 

On the 26th of December, a meeting of printers was called to 
consider the expediency of procuring an act of incorporation for 
the Madison Typographical Society, of which Geo. Hyer was 
Secretary. 

Rev. Dr. Alfred Brukson, of Prairie du Chien, writing of 
his first visit to Madison as a member of the Legislature of 
1840-1, says: " At that time there Avas a wagon stage running, 
from the Capitol east and west three times a week in summer, 
and on runners in the winter. The one going west, went by 
Mineral Point and Platteville to Galena, and of course did not- 
reach Prairie du Chien, the place of my residence. Our only 
means of reaching Madison was by private or hired conveyance. 
In my first visit, myself and several others hired a sleigh and 
and driver. Lodging places were few and far between, and we 
had to fix our stages of day's travel accordingly, requiring two 
nights out to make the one hundred miles. The only houses 
on the road were log cabins, not very large, and if the company 
was large, lodgings were in heaps, and mostly on the floor. 

" The road we traveled, till within sixteen miles of Madison,, 
was the old Military road leading from Fort Crawford (Prairie 
du Chien), to Fort Winnebago (Portage City), on the dividing 
ridge between the waters flowing into the Wisconsin river on 
the north, and those flowing south into the Grant, Platte, Pe- 
catonica and Sugar rivers. This road was one of the best nat- 
ral roads I ever saw. After crossing the Wisconsin we had no 
water to cross ten feet wide in the whole distance; nor was 
there a bridge or a foot of dugway except between the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 135 

Wisconsin and the ridge. The road of course had to wind in ar 
serpentine course to keep the ridge, and up and down the ra- 
vines to reach and descend from the ridge. Wild deer and other 
game were plenty along the road. 

'^ The old and first capitol was then in use, and for the time 
was considerable of a building. It served not only for legisla- 
tion, but for courts, plays, shows and for Divine worship, there 
being no other place in the town where such assemblages could 
be accommodated. The dwellings, stores and shops were in 
*' magnificent distances," so much so, that pigs and poultry 
were in little danger of getting so mixed as to lose their iden- 
tity. 

" I think there were but two hotels — the old American and 
the Madison. The American (afterwards burned down), stood 
on the site of the present " Park Savings Bank." It was of 
wood, two stories above the basement, with a spacious attic; 
and such was the crowd when the Legislature was in session,, 
that the attic (all in one room), was filled with beds on the floor 
to accommodade lodgers, and it got the cognomen of the 
" School Section." The Madison Hotel was not so large, but 
equally crowded, and besides these, every private house that 
possibly could accommodate boarders, was filled to overflowing. 
The Territory was generally well represented on such occasions, 
and every one had " an ax to grind." I boarded at a private 
house near the Third Lake. 

" The streets and sidewalks were not in their present state of 
repair, and in soft weather locomotion was not a desirable ex- 
ercise. We had some thaws that winter that would do credit 
to a more southern and eastern climate ; a thing seldom seen in 
Wisconsin, and the mud and slush were such as to call for boats 
and canoes almost, to get from one place to another. A jocose 
member of the Assembly offered an amendment to a bill to pre- 
vent obstructions in the street leading from the Park to the 
Third Lake, that would prevent the fish from coming up the 
street to the Park. 

"At that time, being a Territory, Congress paid the expenses 
of the government, and the spirit of the majority of the Legis- 



136 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

lature was to create as many offices as possible, so as to give a 
place to partisan favorites and friends to pay tliem for election- 
.eering, and to secure their votes at future elections; also to get 
as much money as possible out of " Uncle Sam," to circulate in 
the country. I objected to this course, on the ground of need- 
less expense, and that it was constituting a precedent for our 
future State that would be a burden when we had to foot the 
bills ourselves. But when the vote was taken, I found myself 
in a slim minority. 

" At the close of the session, it was found that considerable 
.stationery that had been bought for the use of the Legislature 
at the public expense was remaining, affording an opportunity 
for another '' steal," and a motion was made to distribute it 
among the members. This I also opposed, as being improper, 
unjust and dishonest, but I, with a few others, were voted 
down . It was alleged that preceding Legislatures had done so, 
and that the present one had the same right; and when my 
share was laid upon my desk, I objected to receiving it, but was 
told that it could not be returned to the secretary's office and 
be retained for another year, and if it was so returned, it would 
be stolen before the year rolled round, and that if I did not 
take it, others would. This policy was the beginning of that 
.system which was afterwards known as the " Forty Thieves," 
who ruled the Territory and the State for years, on the prin- 
ciple '' to the victor belong the spoils." 

" Bad as this Legislature was in this and some other respects, 
the citizens of the place said it was a great improvement upon 
its predecessors. Whether this was a fact, or a mere compli- 
ment of flattery, I had no means of knowing. The next ses- 
sion composed chiefly of the same men, was like unto the 
other. 

Political hobbies were mounted and rode at John Gilpin 
speed. Log rolling was the order of the day. You help me 
and I will help you, was the ruling spirit of that body. Per-' 
sonal or party interests were the motive power with a majority, 
and but few seemed to inquire whether a proposed measure 
was in itself right or wrong, but whether it would be for the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 187 

interest of the party, himself, or his constituents; and the his- 
tory of legislation in both the Territory and State has not ex- 
hibited as much improvement in these respects as is desirable. 

In those times when the Legislature assembled, it seemed to 
call together the worst elements of society. Faro banks, a 
thing called '' the Tiger," and other gambling institutions, 
were said to exist, and to be run with great boldness, and in 
defiance of both moral and civil law, and many poor wights 
were said to be stripped of all the money they had. Bad 
whisky, in large quantities, was said to be consumed, much 
to the damage of the consumer. Lager beer had not then 
been inaugurated, but other vile drinks equally detrimental 
were said to be in common use. There were, however, some 
redeeming spirits in the place, both among citizens and visi- 
tors, and divine service was kept up in the capitol on Sun- 
days, morning and evening, during the whole session with 
large attendance, the moral effects of which were quite visible. 

We find but little information of the growth of Madison in 
1841. The newspapers had but very little to say about local 
matters, but their columns were filled with articles on the 
political questions of the day. There appeared to be more in- 
terest in the merits and demerits of Gov. Jas. Duake Doty, 
and Gov. Hen^ey Dodge, than in any other subject; both these 
gentlemen had their admirers as well their opponents. This 
state of feeling, unhappily, existed for a number of years. 

From the report of the County Commissioners for the year 
ending January 11, 1811, we learn the receipts were 12,362.61, 
and the disbursements $1,912.09, balance in hands of the treas- 
urer $150.52, to meet outstanding orders of 1109.96. The Com- 
missioners were, E. Peck, S. Mills and P. Bkigham. 

The National Hotel was erected this season on the corner of 
Main street and Washington avenue (the present site of the 
Vilas House) by Zei^as H. Bird. It was a two story framed 
building, and was used as a hotel, with a succession of land- 
lords, until about 1852, when it was purchased by Hon. E. B. 
DEAif, Jr., and removed to lots 2 and 3, block 88, on Clymer 
street, where it now stands, and i« used for a dwelling house. 
10 



138 HISTORY OF MADISON AXD THE 

Geo. Hyer, Esq., became associated with C. C. Sholes, in 
the publication of the Wisconsin Enquirer in the month of 
April, and was succeeded in February, 1842, by J. Gillett 
Knapp. 

The National Anniversary was advertised to be celebrated as 
usual, the officers of the day as published, were David Brig- 
ham, President, N. F. Hyer and A. A. Bird, Vice Presidents, 
Julius T. Clark, Orator, Dr. T. M. Wilcox, Reader, and Wm. 
T. Sterling, Marshall. We do not find any notice of this cel- 
ebration, and suppose it was not much of an afi'air. 

A contract to bridge the Catfish was awarded by the Board 
of County Commissioners, to Thos. Jackson, for 1295.50, which 
was built during the summer. 

E. M. Williamson, Esq., * one of our prominent men, came 
here in the month of September. 

^he following named persons, with others, were residents of 
Madison and Dane county in 1841, as appears from their names 
attached to calls for political meetings in February and June: 
David Brigham, Jas. Morrison, E. Brigham, I. H. Palmer, 
Jesse A . Clark, David Wilder, Volney Moore, S. Clark, 
T. & D. Brezee, H. W. Potter, Oston Cook, Jacob George, 
L. Humphrey, S. H. Taylor, A. C. Dickinson, W. M. Taylor,. 
NicH. Smith, J. T. Clark, A. A. Bird, T. M Wilcox, S. 
Mills, P. W. Matts, E. Moore, H. Clark, A. Nichols, C. 
H. Bird, E. M. Williamson, A. Lull, W. W. Wyman, 
J. R. Barnard, Jas. O. Reeve, Cyrus Hill, Geo. L. Coates, 
W. G. Van Bergen, Wm. N. Seymour, John Catlin, N. T. 
Parkinson, Abel Rasdall, W. T. Sterling, John Stoner,. 
Amos Harris, Horatio Catlin, Wm. C. Wells, C. C. Sholes, 

* E. M. Williamson was a native of Bedford, Westchester county, New 
York, and born October 19, 1801. He came to Milwaukee, March 28,. 
1840, and settled at Madison, which he still makes his home. He has held 
various offices under the Territorial organization; Deputy Register of 
Deeds, Deputy Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, County Surveyor and Clerk 
of the Board of County Commissioners. Since 1846 he has been engaged 
almost exclusively as Land Agent. 

Mr. Williamson was married at Rochester, New York, October i, 1850^ 
to Miss Eliza A. Wallace. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 139 

David Hyek, B. Haney, J. W. Thomas, Chauncey Leland, 
Jos. Veoman, Abel Dunning, Darwin Clark, G. P. Dela- 
plaine, Adam Smith, Edward Campbell, N. F. Hyer, P. B. 
Bird, Thos. Daily, A. P. Field, A. Botkin. 

On the 22d of December, 1841, application was made to David 
Brigham, Jas. Morrison and Burk Fairchild, School Com- 
missioners for the county of Dane, to set off township 7, of 
range 9 east, to be organized as School District No. 1. This 
is believed to be the first action had relative to the organization 
of schools under Territorial laws, in Dane county; the applica- 
tion was signed by Dr. Almon Lull, Ira W. Bird, E. Quivey^ 
Peter W. Matts and Nicholas Smith. The commissioners 
took the same in consideration, and on the 25th reported fav- 
orably, and set off the territory described as district No. 1. On 
January 24, the district petitioned the commissioners to en- 
large the district by including town 8, which was attached 
February 15. 

1842. On the 11th of February, Hon. Chas. C. P. Arndt, a 
member of the Council from the county of Brown, was killed 
by Hon. J. R. Vij^eyard, a member from Grant county. A 
discussion had arisen in the Council on a motion to reconsider 
a vote by which the nomination of E. S. Baker as Sheriff of 
Grant county was rejected a few days before. During the 
progress of the discussion, violent words passed between the 
two parties. The first, conceiving himself to have been in- 
sulted, approached Mr. Vineyard, after the adjournment, for 
the purpose of seeking an explanation. A slight rencontre 
then took place, when the latter drew a pistol from his pocket 
and fired. Mr. Arndt reeled for a few paces, then sunk on the 
floor, and almost instantly expired, having been shot through 
the heart. The funeral services were held at the Council 
Chamber, and the remains taken to Green Bay for interment. 

Mr. Vineyard immediately surrendered himself to the Sher- 
iff, waived an examination, and was committed to jail. After a 
short confinement, he was brought before the Chief Justice of 
the Territory on a writ of habeas corpus, and admitted to bail. 
He was afterwards indicted for manslaughter, and was tried 



no HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

and acquitted. Immediately after the homicide, VhsTEYARD 
sent his resignation to the Council, which refused to receive 
it or have it read, and immediately expelled him. No occur- 
rence ever happened in the Territory that caused more ex- 
citement than this event. Mr. Viiteyard subsequently removed 
to California, and has since deceased. 

On the 18th of February, 1842, the two houses of the Legis- 
lature elected John" Y. Smith Commissioner of Public Build- 
ings. The work on the capitol was finished by Mr. Baxter 
the year following, and the fence placed around the square in 
1842; the cedar posts having been cut partly on the banks of 
the lakes, and partly on the Wisconsin river. 

The third newspaper established here was the Wisconsin 
Democrat. It was a six column weekly, and the first number 
was issued on the 18th of October, 1842. J. Gillett Knapp 
and JoHK Delaky, editors and proprietors. It was a radical 
Democratic State-Rights paper. It continued under those 
persons until February 9, 1843, when John- P. Sheldok and 
George Hyer took possession. It was continued without fur- 
ther change until March 14, 1844, when it was suspended. The 
printing material was afterwards purchased and used for print- 
ing the Argus. 

In May, 1842, Jas. Morrisoit, President, and Simeon Mills, 
Secretary, of the Board of Trustees of Madison Select Female 
School, announced that they had secured the services of Mrs. 
Gay as teacher. 

In relation to the business prospects of the village, the 
Madison Express^ of September 15, 1842, has the following no- 
tice : 

" With the greatest pleasure, we have lately noticed several 
glowing descriptions of rapid improvements going on in neigh- 
boring towns. We heartily rejoice in the prosperity of our 
neighbors, and should certainly envy not their good fortune, 
even were we totally disregarded by the inconstant goddess in 
the distribution of her gifts. Happily, however, by dint of 
good fortune and the industry and enterprise of her citizens, 
Madison is going ahead. The improvements this season 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 141 

nearly, if not quite, equal all before. Facilities for the conve- 
nience and comfort of the inhabitants, as well as the accom- 
modation of the public, are progressing daily. Several fine 
buildings have been completed, while others for dwelling 
houses, shops, stores and various other purposes, are still going 
up, and will be finished in the course of the fall. The capitol 
square is being fenced and cleared of its rubbish, which adds 
much to the appearance of the town. Notwithstanding the 
hard times, the improvements have been larger, and business 
much better than the most sanguine among us anticipated. 
Quite a number of emigrants have settled around and among 
us, and our streets are daily thronged with strangers in pursuit 
of business or pleasure. Though we cannot boast of as great 
an increase in population, wealth or improvements as the lake- 
board towns, and many other portions of the Territory, yet we 
can assure them, one and all, that we are gradually, steadily 
and surely coming up in the world. As it is the transaction of 
public business here which fills our streets with the greatest 
bustle and activity, everything is of course comparatively dor- 
mant during that portion of the year when neighboring towns 
are flowing with life and business. But the cups will soon 
turn, and while the lake towns are frozen up and idle, old 
Jack-frost will but increase our glee, and in turn make ' our 
town ' resound with the tumult of business, not surpassed by 
other parts of the Territory during the most favorable ^season 
of the year." 

The appearance of Madison in the early days of its history, 
while very beautiful in dry and pleasant weather, was far from 
attractive under different circunistances. C. C. Britt, Esq., of 
Portage City, has given the following anecdote as an illustra- 
tion: 

" In the year 1842, or possibly 1843, Gen. JoHis" A. Brown-, 
who afterwards became a well known citizen of our state, and 
his friend Dr. Goodhue, an English gentleman of high culture 
and skill, were residing at Rockford, 111. Having heard much 
of the beauties and promise of Madison, they resolved to jour- 
ney thither and see with their own eyes if all they had heard 



142 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

was indeed true. Accordingly on a fine summer's day they 
started on their tour of inspection, expecting, of course, to find 
something akin to the "promised land." Unfortunately for 
Madison, and to the chagrin of our tourists, the weather had 
become rainy on their arrival, and the highways very muddy. 
They sought shelter at the old " American," then kept by 
" Uncle Jimmy Morrison," as he was familiarly called by every 
one in those days. The unpleasant weather continued for a 
day or two, and with slight intervals of sunshine. All travel- 
ers have observed the unpleasant hue that a rainy day will 
spread over otherwise pleasing scenery ; so with our friends. 
But being men of determined character, and as they had come 
to see the toivn^ they were not to be thwarted by foul weather; 
so they traversed the embryo city through streets and '' across 
lots." In their rounds with such unpleasant sights as often 
greet the eye on a rainy day in frontier settlements — too much 
dram drinking, and an occasional stupid fellow taking a drunken 
snooze in the mud at the roadside. This was not peculiar to 
Madison alone, and they knew it, but combined with the mud and 
the rain, and the newness of the place and its surroundings — 
the lack of material improvements for a capitol city even at 
that day, all tended to impress our strangers very unfavorably, 
and particularly the worthy Doctor, accustomed as he had been 
to the refinements and comforts of his old English home; and 
as they sauntered along the shores of Fourth Lake, amusing 
themselves with casting pebbles into its bright waters, or skim- 
ming them on their placid surface after the manner of their 
boyhood, the Doctor became utterly silent and remained so for 
some time, evidently pondering upon some weighty matter. At 
last he turned suddenly to his companion, and with his finger 
pointing threateningly at him, exclaimed in words more ex- 
pressive than elegant, " John^ A! if you tell anybody that I ever 

was in Madison by I'll kill you ! " and then strode rapidly 

to his hotel, accompanied of course with his chum. They im- 
mediately settled the reckoning with the landlord, and bade good 
bye to Madison, and started for home, perhaps as thoroughly 
disgusted with the place as it was possible for men of their ar- 



FOUR LAKE COVNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 143 

dent temperament to be. In after years, Gen. Browj^ would 
mirthfully relate tliis incident of his first visit to Madison, 
showing how unreliable it is to form impressions under unfa- 
Torable circumstances." 

Mr. Britt further says he visited Madison some three years 
later, also in rainy weather, and he freely admits that the ap- 
pearance of the place even at that date was not sufficiently at- 
tractive, or its promise for improvement so good as to [induce 
him to make a settlement. Subsequently he moved here and 
made it his home for a brief period. The settlement of the town 
was greatly retarded, as has been heretofore stated, from the 
fact that all the desirable lots and lands in Madison and the 
country adjacent were owned by non-resident speculators, and 
could not be purchased except at prices largely in advance of 
iheir true value. 

JoHiq^ Y. Smith, Esq.,* a prominent citizen, came here in the 

*John Y. Smith, was born in LeRay, Jefferson county, New York, Feb- 
ruary lo, 1807. He was left an orphan, without means, at a very early age. 
He learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for several years. 
In 1828, at the age of 21 years, Mr. Smith came to Wisconsin, and first 
■settled at Green Bay. He afterwards resided, for a brief period, in- 
Milwaukee, and in the county of Waukesha. He came to Madison in 
1839, as Commissioner for the Building of the old Capitol. Considerable 
of the work upon that building was executed with his own hands. In 
1843, he removed his family to this place. In the same year, the office of 
Commissioner was abolished, and that of Superintendent of Public Prop- 
erty established, and Mr. Smith was appointed the first incumbent of the 
new office, which position he filled till 1846. In this latter year, he built 
a residence on Clymer street, in this city, which he occupied till he moved 
to his farm some two miles into the country, about two years ago. 

In April, 1844, ^^^ °^<^ Argus office was purchased by Simeon Mills, 
John Y. Smith, and Benjamin Holt. Mr. Smith assumed the editorial 
control of the paper, and in his hands it ranked high as an able Democrat- 
ic paper. In 1S46, Major H. A. Tenney became associated with Mr. 
Smith in the editorial management of the Argus; and that paper became 
the leading organ of that faction of the Democratic party, then known as 
•*' Old Hunkers," and Mr. Smith was recognized as the soundest and ablest 
writer then in that party in the State. He remained in connection with 
this paper, till April, 1851, when he retired from it. After a few years, 
the Argus was discontinued for a time, but was revived in i860, and in 



144 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

winter of 1841, from Green Bay. On February 18, 1842, lie 
was elected Commissioner of Public Buildings. He brought his 
family in July, 1843, and in 1846 erected his residence on the 
corner of Pinckney and Cljaner streets. 

N. W. & E. B. Dean", were here in 1842, and were prominent 
merchants for many years, and still continue residents. 

Miss L. A. Smith advertised, June 7, to open a school in Mr, 
Parkiis'SON^'s building. On the 12th of June a public meeting 
was called by I. Washin"Gton" Bird, Clerk of School District 
No. 1, to vote a tax to build a school house. 

J. P. B. McCabe, published in the newspapers a census report 
of the village he had then completed; and that there were, on 
the 23d of June, 199 males, 143 females — total, 342; 71 build- 
ings, including 2 brick buildings of three stories; 4 church 
organizations: Congregational, Catholic, Methodist and Pres- 
byterian, with occasional services at the capitol ; 2 select schools, 
11 attorneys, 1 physician, 2 justices of the peace, 5 hotels, 3 
milliners, 1 dressmaker, 17 carpenters and joiners, 2 printing 
offices, 3 stores, 2 lumber dealers, 3 surveyors, 1 livery stable, 
1 cabinet maker, 1 saddler, 1 baker, 2 painters, 2 masons, 1 
locksmith, 3 blacksmiths, 2 shoe shops, 1 wagon maker, 1 
watchmaker, 1 plaster and 1 brick manufacturer. 

The celebration on July 4 was suitably observed. The 
advertised programme was: E. Brigham, President; J. G. 
Knapp, Reader; J. T. Clark, Poet; Col. A. P. Field, Orator, 
GiDEON^ Low, W. C. Wells, Rufus Browi^, Ed. Campbell, J. 
Catliijt, J. Larkiis", a. Dukitii^g, Isaac H. Palmer and W. 
B. Slaughter, Vice Presidents; A. Bird, Marshal; S. Cat- 
lin", Assistant Marshal. Col. Field not being able to deliver 
the oration, Alex. L. Collins discharged that duty. Toasts 
were given by S. Mills, P. W. Matts, D. Brigham, J. T. Wil- 
son, N. W. Dean, B. Shacklefoed, E. Brigham, J. G. Knapp, 
J. Morrison, Geo. Vroman, D. G. Adams and H. W. Potter. 

i86i, Mr. Smith again became connected with it editorially, and continued 
about a year, -when its publication was finally abandoned. Since that time 
Mr. Smith has had no permanent connection with the editorial depart- 
ment of any paper. He died at Madison May 5, 1874, aged 67 years. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 145 

During the year ending July 1, 1843, 6,287 acres of land 
were entered in Dane county by actual settlers. 

David Brigham, Esq., died at Madison, August 16, 1843, 
aged 57 years. He was an elder brother of Col. Ebenezer 
Bkigham of Blue Mounds, and removed to this place in 1839. 
He was a graduate of Harvard university 1810, was tutor in 
Bowdoin college, and subsequently read law. In 1818 became 
established in practice at Greenfield, Mass., where he married his 
wife who is still living at Madison with her daughter, Mrs. 
H. G. Bliss. Mr. Brigham was a member and officer of the 
Congregational church, and at his death was the senior mem- 
ber of the bar. The Dane county bar, at a meeting held on 
the 17th of August, passed suitable resolutions on his decease, 
testifying their respect and regard for their deceased associate, 
at which meeting Alex. L. Collins, Esq., was Chairman, and 
L. F. Kellogg, Esq., Secretary. Remarks were made by Col. 
A. P. Field, Thos. W. Sutherland and Alex. Botkin, Esqrs. 
His son, J. Ripley Brigham, Esq., resided at Madison until 
1851, when he removed to Milwaukee, where he is an attorney 
and counselor. 

The Kentucky House, subsequently known as the City 
Hotel, was commenced in the fall of 1843, and completed in 
1845, and was situated on the corner of King and Webster 
streets, on lot 9 block 107. It was 30 by 45 feet with an ell of 
30 feet for dining room and kitchen, two stories high, and 
would accommodate 50 or 60 persons. It was built by Wil* 
LiAM M. Rasdall* (who came in the spring of 1842). The 

* William M. Rasdall was born in the town of Bowling Green, Warren 
county, state of Kentucky, on the ist day of April, 1819, and educated in 
the same town. His brother, Darius Rasdall, and himself carried on the 
business of farming, and run a grist mill together three years. Mr. Ras- 
dall came to Wisconsin in 1842, and took up his residence in Madison, 
where he carried on the livery business for about two years, and com- 
menced building the City Hotel. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff and 
Jailer of the county, which offices he held for four years, terminating in 
1849, when he went to California accompanied by a citizen of Madison. 
On his arrival there he commenced the business of mining, in which he 
continued until 1855, when he returned to Madison. He carried on the 



ti6 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

house had a variety of landlords; a Mr. McCoed stayed a year 
and a half. He was succeeded by Mr. Rasdall, who con- 
tinued it till 1849, when he went to California. He was fol- 
lowed by two Mr. Ott's, by Messrs. Penrith, Dewey, Carter, 
VanWie and Cutter. On Mr. Rasdall's return he kept it 
three years and seven months, when he was succeeded by 
ScoLLANs & Tiernay. The building was destroyed by fire 
December 14, 1865. 

At the election in October, W. A. Wheeler, A. W. Dickin- 
son, and W. H. Hubbard, were elected Count}^ Commissioners; 
Steptoe Catlin, Clerk of Board of Supervisors; Ira W. Bird, 
Register of Deeds; G. P. Delaplaine, Collector and Peter W. 
Matts, Treasurer. 

Rev. Mr. Badger, taught the public school during the year 
1843, and was succeeded by Benjamin Holt, 1843-4. 

A writer in the Madison Enquirer^ of February 26, 1843, 
evidently a new-comer, has a long article on the prospects of 
the Territory, and, being of a poetical temperament, is quite 
enthusiastic on the present condition and the future of Madison, 
comparing it with what it was in the past. The following ex- 
tracts are made, which are to be taken with some degree of al- 
lowance : 

"Where this lovely village now stands, on the shores of these 
placid lakes, not many years since were clustered the wigwams 
of the savage tribe, and the beaver and otter plunged and 
sported undisturbed in the tranquil water. No sound at the 
evening hour disturbed the solemn silence of the scene, save 
the plaintive cry of the wish-ton-wish and the long drawn 
and wild cry of the loon rose from the bosom of the slumber- 
ing wave, like the low wail from the spirit-land — the solitary 
hunter leaning on his bow, wrapped in the contemplation of 
the far-off happy hunting grounds of his sires, bent his dark 
eye from some gently rising hill on the glorious and ever vary- 
ing hues of our western summer; and as the light and feathery 

City Hotel for three years, and subsequently the Rasdall House. Since 
then he has opened another building under the same name on Henry 
:Street, near the Dane County Court House. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 147 

vapors shone in the golden rays from the retiring orb, and 
stretching afar off in the blue expanse, varied their hues to the 
violet, deep purple and molten silver — fancied he heard- the 
voices of his sires and the chieftains of other days inspiring 
him to deeds of heroism and fame. 

"How sudden the transition from such scenes as Cooper 
speaks of in his narratives of the West, to that of our village 
of Madison, where the clank of the saw-mill, the sound of the 
blacksmith's anvil, the noise ot the hammer and the saw are 
heard throughout the day, while the lofty capitol, house of en- 
tertainment, and neat and tasteful private residences, exhibit 
all the evidences of a place settled for many years ; while the 
merchant, with his well filled store, offers to the inhabitant all 
the comforts and luxuries of the distant seaport. 

'' Soon we also shall have our crowded streets, thoroughfares 
and warehouses, for the spirit is among our inhabitants to do 
all this, and in a shorter time than our eastern neighbors would 
judge it possible. Alread}^ preparations have been made for a 
handsome brick hotel to be erected near the public square, an 
academy will shortly be built on or near the same grounds, 
also of brick or stone; arrangements have been made by the 
Rev. Martin Kui^dig, of Milwaukee, a Catholic clergyman of 
distinction, and a former resident of Detroit, for the erection 
of a handsome church in the centre of the village. The en- 
ergy with which his congregation are now at work will soon 
furnish them with a commodious and elegant place of worship. 

"From our office window we see the high dome of the capi- 
tol glancing like silver in the sun's rays, as its bright metal 
covering reflects the light, and the large park of many acres, 
encompassed by a neat painted paling, is tastefully adorned 
with clumps of the burr oak carefully trimmed, while the level 
and well-kept lawn is intersected with graveled walks leading 
to the different ornamental gates of the enclosure. 

"The capitol is a .splendid building of yellow stone. The 
hall is lofty and spacious, with wide corridors, and there is am- 
ple light from the dome, which is very similar to that of the 
New York Exchange. The chambers for the Legislature are 



148 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

large, with high ceilings, and handsomely finished, with every 
accommodation for the members. The offices of the Supreme 
Court are in this building; Secretary's chamber; and the Pub- 
lic Library, well selected, and containing many thousand vol- 
umes of law and miscellany. In this building, the Rev. J. M. 
Clakk, a minister of the Congregational Church, preaches to 
a large and respectable audience. 

" The capitol is not yet completed in all its details, and much 
ornamental work remains to be done; but workmen are con- 
stantly employed on it, and, before many months elapse, we 
can show our eastern visitors something that any village or 
city may well be proud of." 

The " Wisconsin Argus " was the title of the fourth newspa- 
per issued at Madison. It was published by Simeok Mills, 
JoHiT Y. Smith and Benjam^ Holt, under the firm of S. Mills 
& Co. The first number appeared the 22d of April, 1844. Mr. 
Smith had the entire control of the editorial department. It 
was a neatly printed six column weekly, edited with ability, 
and bore at its mast head the names of Polk and Dallas. In 
its democracy, at this time, it was emphatically in favor of free 
trade, a hard-money currency, etc. In December, 1846, H. A. 
Tekney, Esq.. who had been connected with the Jeffersonian^ 
at Galena, Illinois, purchased an interest in the establishment, 
and became a joint editor with Mr. Smith — S. Mills & Co. 
continuing as publishers. 

At the election for county officers, September 26, 1846, the 
Whig party ticket was elected, viz: I. Washington Bied, 
Sheriff"; E. Brigham, W. A. Webb and L. Sanger, County 
Commissioners; G. T. Long, Register of Deeds; Jesse A. Clark, 
Clerk of Board of Supervisors; N. W. Dean, Coroner; P. 
W. Matts, Treasurer, and E. Burdick (Dem.), Survej^or. 
John Catlin, who had been Postmaster since August 9, 
1837, resigned August 20, 1844, and David Holt, Jr., was ap- 
pointed by the President. 

On the 7th of November the Wisconsin Argus says, " our 
town, the trade of which two or three years ago would scarcely 
support a single shop on a small scale, now contains three es- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 149 

tablishments, each doing a fair, living business. The stores re- 
ferred to were Finch & Blanch ard, J. D. Weston and Dean 
& Co. Mr. R. F. Wilson, now of Eau Claire, who was living 
here in 1844, says that the wolves were abundant in and ad- 
joining the Capitol Park. It will be remembered that at this 
date the village was only staked out, and land marks difficult in 
some places to find, owing to the luxurious growth of hazle- 
brush and young timber, and that firewood was so abundant 
that any one could procure his winter's supply without leaving 
the limits of the village, and more frequently a short distance 
from his own residence, in the public streets. 

The number of pupils in the public schools had, at this date, 
1844, so largely increased, and the population so augmented 
that it was determined to lengthen the school term, which had 
heretofore been of three and four months duration, and con- 
tinue the school during the year. Accordingly, in the spring 
of this year, Mr. David H. Wright of this city, took charge of 
the school, and continued it until the spring of 1845. The 
school now numbered nearly one hundred pupils, the room 
being filled to its utmost capacity. A novel contrivance in the 
school room for the purpose of relieving its crowded state, de- 
serves a passing notice. This consisted of a long shelf built 
across the end of the room, and above the door, to which a lad- 
der at one end gave access. This shelf was used for " stowing 
away " the smaller boys and girls. To save time, the teacher 
frequently caught the juveniles in hand, and by an expert toss, 
deposited them in their seat in " the gallery." In the summer 
of 1845, Miss Smedley taught one term which finished the 
course of discipline in this building. In the summer of 
this year another school house was built, now known as the 
'' Little Brick," on Butler street, near Washington avenue. 
This was built of bricks, and divided by partition into two rooms 
to accommodate two teachers. It was large and commodious 
for the time. A. A. Bird was the contractor; the house is es- 
timated to have cost 11,000. Jerome R. Brigham, now of Mil- 
waukee, was the first teacher, in the fall of 1845 and winter 
following, and was succeeded by Royal Buck who continued 
two 5^ears. 



150 HISTORY OF MADISON A:ND THE 

An act of the Territorial Legislature was passed and ap- 
proved, January 26, 1844, incorporating the Madison Academj^: 
J. D. Weston, David Irwix, Simeojn^ Mills, A. A. Bird, JoHir 
CATLiiir, A. L. Collins, W. W. Wyman, J. Y. Smith and J. G, 
Knapp, incorporators; and on February 22, 1845, an act was 
approved appropriating and allowing the county of Dane the 
sum of $2,616, being the amount expended by said county in 
the completion of the capitol, payable out of any money in the 
Territorial treasury: provided, that the said sum shall be paid 
to the Board of County Commissioners of said county, and 
shall be by them appropriated exclusively for the purpose of 
building an academy in the village of Madison; the Territory, 
by paj'ment of said sum, fully discharged from all liability for 
the money thus expended. Out of this amount the sum of 
1400 was appropriated to A. A. Bird, the contractor. By the 
conditions of the act, a vote of the citizens of Madison was re- 
quired to be taken on the matter, subject to their approval. 
The village having voted in favor of receiving said sum, an 
amendatory act was passed February 3, 1846, authorizing the 
Madison Academy to receive from said county of Dane the 
amount referred to. 

On the 5th of December, of this year (1845), a public meet- 
ing was held to draft an act of incorporation of the village, of 
which meeting C. D. Finch was Chairman, and Simeon Mills 
Secretary. It was resolved that S. Mills, S. F. Blanchard, 
John Catlin and Jas. Morrison be such committee. 

At the next session of the Legislature an act of incorpora- 
tion was passed, approved February 3, 1846. Col. Alex. Bot- 
KiN* became a resident this year. Col. J. C. Fairchild, a 

* Col. Alex. Botkin', was born in Kentucky in i8oi. At an early age he 
removed to Ohio, and from thence to Alton, 111., in 1832. He was a Jus- 
tice of the Peace at the time of the Lovejoy riots, and took an active part 
to preserve law and order. He came to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1841, as 
Assistant Secretary of State under the Territory, and was for awhile a law 
partner of Col. Alex. P. Field. Col. Botkin was a member of the Territo- 
rial Assembly of 1847 and 1848, State Senator 1849, 1850, and of the As- 
sembly 1852. He was a candidate for the first Constitutional Convention 
of 1846, but was defeated by Hon. John Y. Smith, and was voted for by the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. lol 

well known citizen (now deceased), came in 1846, and soon 
after erected a two-story brick building, corner of Wisconsin 
avenue and Wilson street. This was regarded as one of the 
handsomest residences at the time in the village. 

A school meeting was called, to be held March 22, 1845, to 
vote a tax for building a school house, signed I. Washington 
BiED, Clerk. 

^ On the 24th of March, X. Jordan, Secretary of the Roman 
Catholic Church, publishes that the foundation of the church 
building would soon be laid, and solicits assistance. 

June 24, notice was given of a Masonic celebration of the an- 
niversary of St. John, signed by A. A. Bird, G. P. Delaplaine, 
E. B. Dean, Jr., and B. Shackleford, Committee. The oration 
was delivered by Rev. S. McHugh. Madison Lodge No. 5 was 
organized by a dispensation from the Grand Master, June 4, 
1844, with the following officers: John Catlin, W M.; David 
Holt, S. W., and A. Bird, J. W. Martin G. VanBergen, Treas- 
urer, B. Shackelford, Secretary, W. W. Steward, S. D., Da- 
vid Hyer, Tyler. From a report to the Grand Lodge in 1845, 
the members composing the Lodge were: J. A. Clark, E. B.' 
Dean, W. N. Seymour, A. M. Badger, Alex. Botkin, R. T. 
Davis, E. Clewitt, Wm. Collins, S. F. Blanchard and Daniel 
M. Holt, Master Masons; Julius T.Clark, G. P. Delaplaine, 
JosiAH Harlow, Fellow Craft, and Ira. W. Hull entered ap- 
prentice. 

On the 19th of December, 1845, the Rev. Stephen McHugh ac- 
cepted a call, and immediately took measures for the organiza- 
tion of a parish under the title of - Grace Church, Madison." * 
During his ministry, the " Ladies' Episcopal Benevolent Soci- 
ety," having, by their efforts, raised the sum of one hundred 
and fifty dollars, purchased the two lots now owned and occu- 
pied by the church. 

The number of communicants was then twenty-five; among 
the names of the members were Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Knapp, Mr. and 
Mrs. A. L. Collins, Mrs. Nelson Emmons, Mrs. John Catlin, 

Whigs in 1849, for United States senator against Hon. Isaac P. Walker 
He died suddenly at Sun Prairie, March 5, 1857, aged 56 jears. 



152 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Mrs. Andrus Viall, Mrs. P. W. Matts, Mrs. Julius T. Clark, 
the two Misses McHugh. A. L. Collins and J. G. Knapp, 
Wardens, and Beriah Brown, Vestryman. 

In the summer of 1847, Kev. Mr. McHugh resigned, and on 
the 11th of August, 1850, a call was presented to the Rev. W. 
H. Woodward, of Pontiac, Mich., who took charge of the par- 
ish, September 22, 1850. On the 6th November of said year, 
a brick house was commenced on the church lots intended for 
a parsonage, and temporarily as a place of worship. On Christ- 
mas day. Divine worship was first held in the building, and 
communion administered to fourteen persons. On Easter Mon- 
day, 1851, the following persons were elected to the vestry: J. 
H. Lathrop, LL.D., Senior Warden, P. B. Kissam, Junior 
Warden, C. Abbott, N. S. Emmons, Beriah Brown, Jacob 
IvNiFFEN, Vestrymen. At a meeting of the Vestry, May 7, 
1851, P. B. KissAM, J. Catlin and N. S. Emmons were elected 
Delegates to the "Convention. Rev. Mr. Woodward resigned 
the charge of the parish November 14, 1851. No further ser- 
vices were held till June 13, 1852, when Rev. Hugh M. Thomp- 
son officiated, and on the 25th of .the same month was elected 
as Rector. Rev. Mr. Thompson subsequently resigned, and the 
Rev. Henry P. Powers officiated from October, 1853, to De- 
cember, 1854. 

We are indebted to Robert W. Laksing, Esq., of Blooming 
Grove, for the following reminiscences of early times: 

"In the summer of 1843, having received the appointment 
of Receiver of Public Moneys at Mineral Point, Wisconsin 
Territory, I proceeded thither, and, in the first discharge of 
my official duties, held a public land sale in the month of Oc- 
tober. I took a steamer at Buffalo, N. Y., and, after a safe and 
pleasant trip, landed at the nice little village of Milwaukee. 
From thence, took early stages via Watertown, to the embryo 
village of the lakes, in the town of Madison, where we spent 
the Sabbath in calling upon the most notable men, among 
whom was the late Gov. James D. Doty, one of nature's 
truest noblemen, Hon. Alexander L. Collins, Geo. B. Smith, 
Thomas J. SuTHERLAi^D, J. G. Knapp, Simeoi^ Mills, A. A. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 153 

Bird, and many others of the early settlers, some of them 
men of merit and becoming modesty, with a smart sprinkling 
of would-be limbs of the law, who were then resident here, and 
all striving, with the small means they then possessed, to make 
Madison the grand point for settlement to men of enterprise 
and capital. 

" Madison, at this time, was the veriest representation of a 
wilderness, which required but the hand of industry to cause 
her to bud and blossom as the rose in the valley. Arriving at 
my destination, I settled down to business, and in the society 
of a people, although much feared and but little loved at a dis- 
tance, whom I soon learned to admire for their native frank- 
ness and good feeling, if not for their morality and good 
breeding. The character of the miners — being principally 
Cornish — was not that of a strictly mild and moral people, 
still they possessed and exercised some redeeming qualities, 
among which, to their praise be it spoken, was their uniform 
attendance, with their families, at the churches on Sabbath 
mornings; although, in the afternoons, they employed them- 
selves in various recreations, but mainly in card playing and 
drinking. While I was living here, Dr. Pulford and others 
had occasion to send east for a rector to take charge of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, and for this purpose we sent an 
invitation to a young clergyman in western New York, who 
lost no time in answering, desiring to know which was best — 
to come by steamboat, or to drive his horse and buggy up the 
lakes. After every possible assurance that the good character 
of the people would afford ample protection to all new-comers, 
the reverend gentleman came with a friend, and, when near 
the village proper, on being informed that they must pass 
through a rather low and dangerous place in the suburbs, 
called ^Shake-rag,'' they became seriously alarmed, which 
alarm was greatly enhanced by the darkness of the night; and 
so they put themselves in an attitude of defense, and having 
primed and cocked their pistols, the one drove the team, with a 
pistol pointed ahead in one hand, while the other reversed his 
position and kept a sharp lookout for any invasion in the rear, 
11 



154 HISTORY OF MADISON AlSD THE 

and in this condition they at last tremulously, but safely, ar- 
rived at the domicil of the writer^ more scared than hurt, and 
as free from danger or harm as could be. 

"Having received intelligence of the death of one of my 
children, I left Mineral Point for the home of my family, in 
Ontario county, western New York, and arrived at Detroit, via 
Galena and Chicago, by stages, just in time, in November, for 
the last steamer to Buffalo that fall, where we landed safely af- 
ter a very boisterous and dangerous voyage on Lake Erie. Chi- 
cago, at this time, was a mere sea of mud and water, and,, 
from the only respectable hotel there, passengers for the east 
had to wade ankle deep through the street to reach the steamer, 
then plying to St. Joe, in Michigan, from whence we staged it,- 
over logways and through sloughs, slush and rain to Marshall, 
where we reached the first railway, and went on our way re- 
joicing to Detroit. I entered my name on the hotel register at 
Chicago, adding my official position, not dreaming that from 
this simple circumstance I was to derive so great a notoriety as 
preceded my arrival home. But when I arrived at Canandai- 
gua, where I had many excellent and good friends, I was not a 
little surprised when they congratulated me upon the fact of 
my not being an absconding public defaulter, as had been pub- 
lished by and in the newspaper of the notorious Long Johk 
Wektwoeth. Quite a number of the eastern papers repub- 
lished the libel, and for which they made haste to make ample 
amends by the payment of money and recantations. The 
United States Senate afterwards unanimously confirmed my 
nomination. I returned, in the spring of 1844, to Mineral 
Point, with my family of nine children, who are all still living 
but one. From thence I removed to Madison, the day before 
Christmas, 1845, and opened the 'National Hotel,' on the site 
of the present Vilas House, and conducted the same on strictly 
temperance principles for several years. 

"Having opened house just before the meeting of the Terri- 
torial Legislature, the Hon. E. V. Whiton, who was then a 
member of the Council, came to me a stranger and selected a 
room for the session. I trust it will not be thought improper 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 155 

for me, here to state, that on his coming to my house, Mr. 
Whito:n', who was a sound lawyer and otherwise a most excel- 
lent man, took his initial step in temperance reform, and from 
which he never afterwards departed, thus proving, contrary to 
general belief, that a sensible being can reform from any evil. 
He was subsequently Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in 
which eminent position he lived till his death, deeply lamented 
and mourned by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. 
It was notorious, in these early times, that very many of the 
leading men then in the Territory were hale fellows, well met, 
and given not a little to inebriety, to which habit, in general, 
they adhered with hopeless tenacity; and to our sincere regret, 
candor compels us to say, that some of our best men, by this 
indulgence, were driven down to a premature grave, and but 
few of this class now remain as the wasted mementoes of the 
reckless past. 

'' Madison was now an incorporated village, and the facilities^ 
for traveling and transportation having increased, the more 
careful and intelligent of her people saw the necessity of im- 
provement, put forth all of their energy and enterprise to ac- 
complish the same, although seriously opposed by the older 
settlers, whose minds had not yet become susceptible of pro- 
gressive impressions by reason of their unhallowed indul- 
gences. The capitol presented the sorrowful appearance of a 
state house under leaky circumstances, the court room of which 
was generally flooded after a rain. The Methodists occupied 
this room on Sundays, but the attendance was small, and the 
benefits smaller, if anything. Religion had not yet got a fair 
square foothold among the sinners, some of whom were sup- 
posed to be invulnerable to good morals, and odious in char- 
acter. 

" Besides the ' National,' there were two or three other nota- 
ble hotels. The ' Madison,' kept for a time by a Mr. Clark, 
and others. Another was the ' American Hotel,' run by the 
inimitable Jemmy Morrison^, of whom many amusing anec- 
dotes have been told. He had a number of good as well as 
some bad traits. He was friendly and good to those he loved," 



lo6 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

but a formidable enemy to those he disliked. The ' City Hotel ' 
was kept by the famous A. A. Bird; he was the man who, it 
was supposed, first saw the sun rise at Sun Prairie, throwing 
its luminous rays over the enchanting scenery of the embryo 
Madison, destined so soon to assume a position worthy of its 
location. He lived to see the day of its prosperity, and himself 
a poor man. We could name many persons and their many 
eccentricities, but in doing so we fear to do a wrong, of no 
benefit at this time. It must suffice to say, that Madison 
could boast in those days of a large number of inimitable to- 
pers, and being thus early baptised in liquid poison, she has 
grown up with a prolific increase of the seemingly incurable 
curse. 

" The society at Madison, in an early day, was of a mixed 
kind, rendered somewhat sociable by necessity, as there were 
many quite dependent upon their fellows for the necessaries of 
life. There were some, however, who prided themselves upon 
being the aristocracy and elite of the village; but they, like all 
other things of human frailty, soon found their level in society 
by being driven to the want of those necessities which were 
incompatible with aristocracy in Wisconsin. The citizens were 
quite pleasant and sociable in their intercourse with each other; 
and, although many times the necessities of life were scarce and 
could not be had, still their wants were reasonably supplied by 
the courtesy and kindness of those who possessed them, and 
that, too, as a gratuity, without the hope of any return. Good 
preaching was out of the question, as the people were too poor 
to induce talented men to come hither. Such as we had, 'good 
or bad, had but little influence over consciences hardened by 
the peculiar traits of a pioneer's life. Merchandise and gro- 
ceries were purchased mostly at Milwaukee, and retailed at 
Madison at enormous prices. Farm productions of every kind 
were sold at ruinous rates, averaging a bushel of wheat or 
other grain for a yard of calico or cotton goods. Grists had to 
be taken to the Cambridge Mills, twenty miles distant, to be 
ground. It took a long time to regulate trade so as to be rea- 
sonable and acceptable to all concerned. As a whole, the peo- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 157 

pie were all that could be reasonabl}^ expected from their man- 
ner of life, the want of moral and religious instruction, and 
the depression of the times. It was the invariable custom of 
those who came in here at an early day, to receive new-comers 
with open hearts and outstretched arms. They were not only 
made welcome in an ordinary sense, but were embraced and 
loved as brethren, although entire strangers to each other, and 
who, on being thus kindly received and recognized, soon felt 
themselves at home, and by perseverance and industry, obtained 
a foundation for future prosperity. The fact is patent, and 
cannot be denied, that very many of those of the first settlers 
having in their power all of the means to accumulate wealth, 
never saved enough to live comfortably, but died, as they had 
lived, poor and penniless, a sad reminder of the unerring truth, 
that ' the way of the transgressor is hard.' 

"Occasionally, in the course of time, men of wealth and 
means, with steady habits and progressive ideas, would come 
and settle down in our midst, and thus, by littles, the character 
of the people for moral and intellectual stability, grew and was 
established in the then beautiful village, so early to become the 
loveliest city of the northwest. 

"At the sessions of the Legislatures there was little of lob- 
bying done, because laws were easily obtained for legitimate 
purposes; legislators and constituents, at that time, not having 
been initiated in the art mobilier or the science of stealing 
from the public crib. Members and outsiders generally gav 
their waste time up to the indulgence of fun, frolic and high- 
cock-arorum! And no people more highly enjoyed life than did 
our solons and their constituents, and but for the native weak- 
ness of some of them, but little of an oifensive character could 
have been justly charged against them. There were many no- 
ble geniuses among the early settlers at Madison and in its vi- 
cinity, in respect to whom, comparatively with our best citi- 
zens from other parts of the Territory, our people bore an en- 
viable position, morally, civilly and intellectually. They all 
aimed their highest interests, individually and collectively, 
the spare means they then possessed enabled them to do; and 



158 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

they had a pride in advising each other for the best, as matters 
and things presented themselves to their judgment. 

" As a matter of fact, it may be stated, that from the least to 
the greatest intelligence among its citizens, all looked with em- 
phatic assurance upon the certain prospect of Madison becom- 
ing the Queen City of Wisconsin; and, whose growing beauty, 
charming scenery and delightful surroundings, were destined to 
outvie any possible competition. Some have lived to see the 
day, when these fond anticipations have been fully realized, and 
which enables us now joyfully to refer to our beautiful Madi- 
son, as our lovely "city set upon a hill whose light cannot be 
hid." We have often expressed the sentiment, and we have 
pleasure in repeating it right here, that whoever has heard of 
Madison, its unsurpassed beauty, grandeur and enchanting im- 
agery, and has ability and means to go there, should never die 
until he has secured the sight, and enjoyed the delights of its 
transporting rapturous scenes. 

" There was a; number of religious societies just fairly begin- 
ning to assume a position as such, and amongst whom the ladies 
were not wanting in their exertions to give pecuniary aid and 
prosperity to their several denominations, by the institution of 
sewing circles and fairs for the promotion of church objects, at 
whose meetings the male population were not backward in their 
attendance; and, for those times, were quite liberal in their 
weekly donations. As in all undertakings and projects of a be- 
nevolent and progressive character, women were the moving 
and untiring co-workers for accomplishing the objects of their 
noblest desires, so the ladies of Madison, in the infancy of their 
churches, labored and toiled with unremitting energy and per- 
severance, until their accumulations gave not only a foundation, 
but also, in some instances, a beautiful superstructure for their 
several congregations to worship in. We should give all honor 
and praise to these large-hearted and noble women, for their 
kind hearted and generous devotion ; and but for whose love to 
God and good will to man, these consecrated structures would 
not now probably be pointing their spires and drawing the hearts 
of mankind up towards the " house not made with hands, eter- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 159 

nal in the heavens." It should be a matter of sincere joy with 
those now living, that God has been graciously pleased to thus 
" give unto these noble daughters of the church, abundantly of 
the fruit of their hands." 

'^ In 1845, Madison began to improve rapidly, and particular- 
ly so under the large management and ceaseless labors and im- 
provement of ex-Gov. Leon^ard J. Farwell. The times then 
seemed to be favorable for large and continuous improvements; 
but, as in 1836, in other sections of our country, when fortunes 
were made in a day, and lost as soon, by the immediate and un- 
expected revulsion of the times, so Madison, in its highest, 
hopeful assurance of continued prosperity, became checked in 
growth, by the sudden change of the times, and the sad reverses 
of fortune of her noblest and best friend. This check to its ad- 
vancement continued to bear with severity upon the. city of our 
delights for a number of years; but, as all things terrestrial 
have their day of trial, if not of affliction, and finally rise supe- 
rior to all vicissitudes and emergencies, so Madison has emerged 
from the hazard of her once unfortunate condition, and risen 
majestically above all her fears and the frowns of her enemies, 
so that she has become, simply by right of her exalted position, 
*' Monarch of all she surveys." 

Maj. H. A. Tej^^ney writes: 

" Early in June, 1845, after a boisterous trip upon the lakes, 
I landed at Milwaukee, then of more pretensions than propor- 
tions. It was a long, straggling village, almost wholly confined 
to the east side of the river. The low bottom on the west side, 
was in the main a mere swamp densely overgrown with tamar- 
ack. The houses, such as they were, may have numbered one 
or two hundred. Except a road laid out by way of Kilbourn- 
town, there was no means of access to the interior. The steamer 
landed at " Higby's Pier, carried far out into the bay. If the 
then mouth of the river was accessible to shipping, it was not 
often used. The place even then, in the intelligence, zeal and 
activity of its population, foreshadowed the modern city; but 
such elements as railroads, telegraphs, etc., of course entered 
into the calculation of no one. 



160 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

" Stages at that time left for Madison twice a week, and be- 
yond, once a week. The route ran round by way of Prairie- 
ville, Johnstown and Janesville, to avoid the dreaded '' Rock 
river woods," the road through which was the terror of the 
early settlers. 

" I reached the place about two hours after the semi-weekly 
stage had left, and not relishing the idea of waiting four days, I 
secured a horse from Moore & Co. (as I now remember the firm), 
and started on the shortest route for Madison at noon. After 
passing through an almost unbroken forest with scarce a house, 
at dark I stopped at what is now Summit, consisting of a 
wretched tavern, blacksmith shop and one or two farm houses. 
Roughing in the wilderness was not entirely new to me, hav- 
ing came from the forest region of Northern Ohio, but not 
liking the extremely primitive accommodations, I started very 
early next morning, supposing that of course houses would be 
found all along the way. It was near noon before I came upon 
a house where breakfast could be procured, but as there was no 
name to the place, I am unable to name the point. Going on, 
I passed into what to me was a marvel from its resemblance to 
the orchards of my boyhood, to oak openings — and finally out 
upon the prairies, even a greater curiosity. The illusions of 
the route everywhere surprised me. Looking about at the mag- 
nificent groves and cleared places, I expected every moment to 
come out upon farms and villages, only to be disappointed. In- 
deed houses at that time scarce numbered more than one to 
twenty miles, and the road was a mere blind path, which at 
time? it was difficult to follow, while an endless vista and sol- 
emn silence, was to me a new and wonderful experience. I 
reached Beecher's old place in Cottage Grove about 6 P. M., 
and about 7, from the high grounds about four miles distant, 
obtained my first view of Madison and the Four Lake country. 

" The spectacle was a vision so glorious, that it painted itself 
on my memory with a vividness that has never left it. Just 
previous to reaching the elevation I had been overtaken by a 
gentleman also bound for Madison, and when we reached the 
summit, both stopped our horses in involuntary surprise. Four 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 161 

Lakes lay spread out before us, brought out in strong relief by 
tlie declining sun just sinking in the west, shining like bur- 
nished mirrors. On all sides forest and prairie swept down in 
lines and patches unobstructed to their shores. Except the 
village, magnified a thousand fold as a central figure, there was 
no break in the scene — not a mark of human improvement. 
As this line of white beach sand glowing in the sunset stood in 
contrast with the dark, green foliage that encompassed it, 
while plain and level, precipice and peninsula, bay and gulf, 
were clothed in a brilliancy of outline, and a beauty beyond the 
power of description. Half an hour of twilight passed before 
our interest in the golden vision was satisfied. Madison seemed 
to be about two miles away. Our jaded horses and tired bodies 
did not allow of rapid movements, and we supposed half an hour 
would land us at a hotel. But darkness deepened over the 
scene. Hours passed — we concluded we must be lost — until 
finally we saw a light, and about 10 o'clock learned that we 
were actually in Madison. We stopped at the Madison House, 
then chief hotel for stage passengers. Col. A. A. Bird seemed 
to be the presiding genius of the concern. 

"In the morning, after breakfast, great was my surprise to 
find the hotel in the midst of an almost unbroken forest. Al- 
though a main street, it had but five or six houses in its whole 
length. The road — King street — was as yet covered with an 
almost unbroken sod, filled with stumps of trees, cut out only 
in the center, while walks were unknown, and their site cov- 
ered with a dense undergrowth. This description is true of 
every street on the site that any attempt had been made to open. 
Indeed,^except three country roads crossing the plot there 
were no improvements of any kind. The capitol park had not 
been undergrowthed — its fences were carried through a dense 
thicket, and the southwest and northwest sides of the square 
were still almost unbroken forest, almost impassable. 

" I remained four days in the place. Met J. A. NooNAJSTy 
Esq., who introduced me so all the Territorial officials — then 
Gov. Dodge, J.^B. Floyd, Secretary, Judges Duxn, Iryik and 
Miller, and others. While there heard Sam Crawford's 



162 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

maiden plea. I made long walks around the then beautiful 
beaches of the lakes. The shore line was nowhere broken by an 
improvement, nor was the house of a settler anywhere visible. 
Everything almost was in a state of nature, and the foliage so 
dense that, except the old capitol, it was rare a building was 
visible. 

" When I first visited Madison in 1845, it was an insignificant 
hamlet standing in a dense forest thicket, without streets, av- 
enues, walks or improvements of any kind: too obscure coun* 
try roads excepted. There was not a mark of man's presence 
upon any of its surroundings. Prairies and groves came down 
to the lakes, as yet unbroken. There was neither mill nor fac- 
tory, nor indeed a strictly industrial pursuit of any kind. Gen'- 
erally the whole region may be described as a magnificent and 
fertile waste. 

" After a few days I went on to Galena, and arranged to set- 
tle at that point. In September, I returned from Ohio, where 
I then lived, and later commenced the publication of the " Ga- 
lena Jeffersotiian^''^ among the lead diggers. The incidents and 
curious experiences of my stay there would fill a volume. It 
was a period when three quarters of the whole western popula- 
tion were sick annually for months. I of course took the ague, 
and fearing I could not get rid of it while living on the Missis- 
sippi, gave up my ofiice, and removed with my family to Madi- 
son in November of the next year, where I have ever since kept 
my home. It was not until 1855 that I was able to shake off 
the chills. 

" There was so much and yet so little of importance in the 
early settlement, that it might be comprehended in a sentence, 
or swelled to a volume. One scarce knows what to say when 
so much may be said, and yet so little to the purpose. 

'' Madison was a hamlet — the country a wild waste. Popu- 
lation had but barely discovered it. There were three voting 
precincts — Blue Mounds, Madison and Albion. The town of 
Madison covered twenty-four townships then without name. 
The balance of the county was divided between the other two. 
There was but one German settler, X. Joedaj^-, and three Irish 



FOVR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 163 

— Thomas and Mathew Dunj^ and Peter Kavajs^augh. It 
took four counties to make an Assembly District — Dane, Co- 
lumbia, Sauk and Green, and all the territory between the south 
line of the state in its central part to Lake Superior, for a 
Council district. Many years elapsed before towns received 
names. 

'' Game was profusely abundant. I repeatedly shot prairie 
chickens on the capitol square, and the hunting of quail there 
was common. The last deer killed within the site was in 1847 

— an old buck whose way was over the University hill. He was 
so sagacious that he was. not taken until hunted at times for 
three jyears. Bears were common, wolves innumerable, and 
other wild animals in proportion. In fish and fowls the pres- 
ent generation have not the faintest conception of the enormous 
profusion of that period. The way they were slaughtered at 
times in mere sport, was a wicked waste. In 1849 the Winne- 
bagoes camped near the present Insane Hospital. Spreading 
out over the country, they drove all the deer of all kinds to- 
wards the center and killed all — sparing none. They had over 
500 carcasses, when a band of citizens went over and drove them 
off, but the deer never recovered from that fatal raid. 

" Of the population of that period I have in various articles 
so often spoken as to have little to say. The community was 
almost a pure democracy, bound together by every tie of 
sympathy and friendship. Almost every social gathering was in 
common. The standard of respectability was education, honesty, 
honor, and an observance of the laws of good breeding. Six- 
pences did not count in men's estimation of each other; kind, 
generous and neighborly acts were taken as a matter of course. 
None were so poor or lowly as not to receive necessary aid and 
attention. We had no organized and secret societies to help 
each other, and therefore did it with scarce the asking, and 
without thought of obligation. The modern crystallizations of 
conceit and selfishness were unknown. 

'' Our politics in those days were red hot, but* almost always 
good natured. When able to cast seventy-two votes on one 
occasion, the number was a matter of public boast. It will be 



164: HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

4 

seen from this, that a party could not divide much on candi- 
dates and succeed. Memory of those eventful canvasses is rich 
in comic incident, and laughable surprises. If we had v^arm 
differences at the polls, we made it all up in our private and 
social relations. We had no scandals, scarce any but imported 
divorces, no espionage or tattle of garrulous inferiority, no quar- 
rels of religious orders, no temperance societies, and but little 
intemperance. Our wants were few; our supplies of essentials 
always adequate. Fashions did not disturb us. It was not 
regarded as vulgar to have physical strength and good appe- 
tites. Indeed, none of the modern clap-trap, little affectations, 
small jealousies, and party dignity troubled us. We lived lives 
of activity and usefulness — putting away sham, and looking 
only to substance. 

" We had one common school house, then located in the for- 
est, but I am unable here to name the street. Our jail was a 
log building, about 12X16, used part of the time as a shoe- 
maker's shop. Shortly after, by a united effort, a church was 
built for Rev. Mr. Miner, soon succeeded by Rev. Mr. Lord. 

" The forests from the country were continuous across the 
city site, except where broken by a few scanty houses. Uni- 
versity hill was inaccessible from any direct road, overgrown 
with dense young timber, intermingled with gigantic oaks. 
The summit was the first burial place — a man killed by 
lightning in 1839. The grave was at the southeast corner of 
the present central building. In time, burial places increased 
to four — one on lots near or within the premises of Judge 
Vilas, one in the ridge south of the West Milwaukee depot, and 
the other the block near S. D. Carpenter's place. All were 
at the time in a dense forest. 

" Prairie fires annually crossed the site from one marsh to the 
other, going through the timber between the capitol park and 
Fourth Lake. Some of these exhibitions were on so grand a 
scale as to remind me of the great Chicago fire. 

" Of literary entertainments we had few. It was the custom 
to patronize everything that came along to encourage others to 
follow. Our first circus came in 1848, while the legislature 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 165 

was in session, and adjourned the body without the formality 
of a vote. Social gatherings, from their freedom and intel- 
lectual cast, left little to desire. Fun and frolic was the chief 
characteristic, and more of it in a week than ten years now 
witness. 

" A complete picture of primitive Madison would be a pic- 
ture of the Territory at large, whose political, if not intellect- 
ual center it then was. Each of its settlers had characteristic 
peculiarities of his own, which affixed a decided mark to him. 
These have never wholly disappeared. Mutual respect and for- 
bearance was the social as well as civil rule. It was a golden 
era, which once passed will never return." 



166 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 



CHAPTER V. 

Village akd Town Elections 1846-49 — Water Power — Celebra- 
tion, July 4, 1846— Public Cemetery — Dr. C. B. Chapman's and- 
J. T. Clark's Reminiscences — Elections 1847 — Hope Lodge I. O. 
O. F. — Knapp's Account of Capitol Grounds — L. J. Farwell's 
Arrival — First Bell in Madison — Organization of Baptist 
Church 1847 — Trial of Gross for Murder — Elections 1848- 
49 — Growth op Village, 1848 — State Historical Society, 1849 
— State University. 

At tlie session of the legislature in the winter of 1846, an act 
was passed, abolishing the commissioner system of government, 
and substituting town organizations. By the provisions of this 
act, the towns of Albion, Rutland, Rome (now Oregon), Dun- 
kirk, and Sun Prairie, were set off as separate towns — the re- 
mainder of the county comprised the town of Madison. 

On the 2d of March, the first charter election for ofl&cers of 
the village under the act of incorporation, took place, when the- 
following persons were chosen: President, Thos. W. Suther- 
land; Trustees, Peter W. Matts, E. B. Dean, Jr., Wm. N. 
Seymour, Alonzo Wilcox and James Morrison; Clerk, Julius 
T. Clark; Assessor, Sidney F. Blanchard; Treasurer, Dar- 
win Clark; Marshal, Andrus Viall. 

The published statement of the receipts and disbursements 
of Dane county, from January 11, 1845, to January 9, 1846, 
were — receipts, $6,166.81; disbursements, 16,493.62. 

The following persons were elected town officers at the spring 
election, April 7, 1846: Supervisors, Jas. R. Larkin, Edwari> 
Campbell and Wm. C. Wells; Town Clerk, J. Duane Ruggles; 
Collector, Andrus Viall; Treasurer, Darw^in Clark; Asses- 
sors, Geo. Vroman, John W. Thomas and Wm. Larkin; 
School Commissioners, J. Gillett Knapp, Benjamin Holt and 
A. H. Talcott; Fence Viewers, T. W. Sutherland, J. Y. 
Smith and E. B. Dean Jr.; Road Commissioners, J. M. Griffin, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 167 

Thos. Rathbun and Abikam Drakely; Justices of the Peace 
Wm. N. Seymour, Nat. Wheeler, Barlow Shackleford and- 
Alonzo Wilcox; Constables, Albert Skinner, John Cot- 
tbell, James Moore; Sealer, Squire Lamb. The vote for 
State Government was 200, against, 47. At the same time a 
tax of two and half mills, on the dollar valuation, was levied 
for the support of schools, and the same amount for road pur- 
poses. At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, June 1, a tax 
of five mills was levied for poor purposes, and $100 for incidental 
expenses, and on June 3d, tavern licenses were fixed at $5.00 
in the country and $15.00 in town; merchants' licenses $10, 
and grocers' $100. 

The Trustees of the Village, on the 23d of March, 1846, pub- 
lished proposals to lease the Hydraulic power within the corpo- 
ration limits as follows: 

" Whereas, it has been ascertained by measurement that there 
is within the corporation limits of Madison, a fall or difference 
of elevation between the Third and Fourth of the Four Lakes, 
sufl&cient if improved, to create a water power of considerable 
magnitude; and whereas, the legislature of this Territory did 
by an act approved February 3, 1846, grant to the corporation 
of Madison the right to lease, improve or otherwise dispose of 
said water power, therefore, 

" Public notice is hereby given that the undersigned Board of 
Trustees of said Corporation, will receive proposals until the first 
day of June next, for leasing the right to the water above men- 
tioned for a term of years on the condition that the lessee or lessees 
excavate and complete a canal of 40 feet in width at the bottom 
and 50 at the top, from the Fourth to the Third Lake along or 
near East Canal street, dam the present outlet of the Fourth 
Lake, build two good plank bridges across said canal, the one 
near the Third and the other near the Fourth Lake, with a 
substantial railing to each ; erect a good flouring mill with at 
least four run of stone, and such other machinery as the lessee 
or lessees may see proper, all to be performed within a reason- 
able time, and bonds to be given to the Trustees of the Corpo- 
ration of Madison for the faithful prosecution and completion 



l^S HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

of said work. The Trustees would state for the information of 
those who may desire to undertake the work, that they have 
caused a level to be taken, and that the engineer reports a dif- 
ference of 3 71-100 feet between the water of the above named 
lakes, with the opinion that, by the proper damming, this fall 
may be increased to 5^ or 6 feet. The distance between the Lakes 
on the proposed route is about 48 chains, and the nature of the 
ground favorable for excavation. This cannot but create a 
great power, especially when it is considered that its head is a 
lake of some twenty miles in circumference. The undersigned 
have the utmost confidence in the practicability and advant- 
ages of the work, and feel that they can lease upon terms which 
will make it a most desirable object to any capitalist who may 
have the means necessary to undertake its construction. 

" T. W. Sutherland, President, 

'' Petek W. Matts, 

'' Eliab B. Dean, Jr., 

"Wllliam N. Seymour, 

" Alonzo Wilcox, 

"James Morrison, 

'* Barlow Shackleford, 

" Trustees. 
^*J. T. Clark, Clerk. 

" Madison, March 23, 1846." 

In reply to which, a proposition was made by Simeon Mills 
to lease the water power for sixty years; which proposition was 
accepted. Subsequently Mr. Mills had a careful survey made 
of the level of the lakes, and not being satisfied with the result, 
abandoned the undertaking. In 1848 he erected on lots 6 and 
7, block 116, corner of Main and Blair streets, a steam saw mill. 
On the 6th of December, 1857, he advertised for 1,000 saw logs. 

The celebration of the 4th of July this year was observed with 
the following officers: Joi^a. Larkin, President; M. G. Ya.-^ 
Bergen and J. Y. SMiTH,yice Presidents; A. A. Bird, Marshal; 
Beriah Brown, Reader; Wm. Welch, Orator; Rev. S. E. 
Miner, Chaplain; S. F. Blanchard, D. B. Sneeden, Royal 
Buck, John T. Wilson, Geo. A. Gary, E. B. Dean, Jr., Ben- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 169 

jAitiN Holt, Andrus Viall, Beriah Brown, and S. M. Van 
Bergen, Committee of Arrangements. Of the celebration one 
newspaper says: 

^' The Honorable Fourth of July arrived in town last Friday 
night, and notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, many of 
our citizens were on hand to welcome his approach by a salute 
from a 150 pounder (that is to say, the anvil weighed that), 
and such other " hasty " ceremonies as were suited to the 
occasion. 

" Daylight was ushered in by a magnficent thunder storm, 
and in the way of a morning salute, the thunder did the clean 
thing, while the said anvil lay upon the ground in mute aston- 
ishment. The salute being over, the vapors disappeared and 
old Sol received the nation's guest with warm congratulations. 
The oration, by Mr. Welch, judging from the impression it 
produced and the various opinions and remarks which it elic- 
ited, must have possessed the rare qualities of originality and 
strength, if nothing more. The dinner was served up in good 
style by R. W. Lansij^g, and the Madison Brass Band enlivened 
the occasion by a variety of choice music, and we are happy in 
being able to add that but very little of intemperance or dis- 
orderly conduct was witnessed during the day and evening." 

Until the year 1846, Madison cannot be said to have had a 
public cemetery. The sand ridge, southeast of the depot of 
the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad Company, the university 
hill, and part of block 61, had been previously used — none 
were enclosed or otherwise improved. The first act of the 
corporation for the purchase of burial grounds, seems to have 
taken place this year, but the purchase was not perfected until 
two or three years later. The grounds selected was block 180, 
about one mile northeast of the capitol building, and embraced 
an area of about three and a half acres. It was subsequently 
platted into 256 lots, 16 of the larger size equivalent to 61 of 
the smaller ones being reserved as a Potters Field, leaving 236 
lots, 10 b}^ 18 feet each, for private sale ; of this last number 139 
have been disposed of, leaving for future wants but 117 lots. 
The ground on the whole is favorably located and adapted to 
13 



170 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

the end in view, having a subsoil generally composed of sand 
and gravel. It has been properly enclosed with a neat and 
substantial fence, at an expense of about 1200. The land has 
an elevation of about thirty feet above lake Monona, on whiclf 
it ought to have bordered, and has an easy and gentle slope, 
and was deemed a judicious selection considering the views 
entertained of the probable future growth of the village. 

Maj. H. A. Tenney has an article in the State Journal of 
November 26, 1853, strongly urging the importance of pur- 
chasing a tract of land of forty or more acres, to meet the 
future wants of the town. 

The population of Madison this year (1846) was 626, and 
Dane county 8,289. Two-thirds, and probably three-fourths 
of the village plat was covered with forest trees and hazel 
brush. Not over half a dozen houses had been erected west- 
ward or northward of the Capitol square ; and the forest north- 
eastward remained unbroken below the street on which the old 
jail is located. East and west King street (now State street), 
a part of Morris (now Main street), and those immediately 
around the square, comprised about all the streets opened for 
travel. Such was the appearance of the village in 1846, and 
for four years thereafter its growth was anything but rapid. 

The amount of real and personal property assessed for cor- 
poration purposes, and the amount of taxes levied for 1846 were : 
Real, $41,019. Personal, 19,300. Total, 150,319. Amount of 
tax, 1251.60. 

We are indebted to Dr. C. B. Chapmaj^, who came to Madi- 
son in 1846, for the following paper of reminiscences of men 
and things as they appeared to him shortly after his arrival : 

" It is not easy to calculate the advantage which would be 
conferred upon individuals and communities by the introduc- 
tion into schools and families of a system by which the more 
important events of each day shall be noted. The small amount 
of time which would be demanded for a strict adherence to such 
a custom, seems to indicate that it only requires that some 
simple form should be introduced in order to secure a more 
general compliance with the custom. If such statements in a 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 171 

diary should only embrace reports of weather and employment 
of the day, it would enable the person to recur to many other 
contemporary incidents. I am reminded of what I have stated, 
as I have set for myself the task of producing an account of 
my first years in Madison. It has been by the expenditure of 
much labor and care in the searching for memoranda, that the 
dates, which will hereafter appear, have been arrived at and 
made reliable, while more use of exact dates would be much 
more satisfactory. 

^'It was on the 18th of^May, 1846, that I left Bristol, Trum- 
bull county, Ohio, for Madison. There was no railroad in that 
part of the State; the nearest was the Lake Erie and Mad 
River Road, from Sandusky, extending southward. I journeyed 
to Cleveland by private conveyance, and thence to Milwaukee 
by the steamboat Wisconsin. Boats were then well patronized 
by travelers and emigrants, along the chain of lakes, from Buf- 
falo to Chicago. A portion of the Michigan Central Road had 
been finished, and a small proportion of the passengers left us 
at Detroit, in order to come onward by that route, which gave 
but little advantage in time. 

''We arrived at Milwaukee on the morning of Saturday, 
May 23d, and, as the stage left there for Madison but three 
times a week, or on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we re- 
mained until Monday morning, the 25th. We arrived at Janes- 
ville at 11 P. M., and at Madison the evening of May 26. Our 
first view of the dome of the old capitol was from the eleva- 
tion north from Deming Fitch's farm, northwest quarter of 
section 25. The town site was then mostly covered by a forest 
of small oaks. The forest along the way through Greenbush 
was so dense that we did not obtain another view of the 
Capitol until near the south corner of the Capitol square. 
The only building between that corner and the outlet of Dead 
Lake (Lake Wingra) was the log house of Thomas Dunnt, 
which was a short distance below the court house. The City 
Hotel was then the stage house, and stood upon the corner 
where the Fairchild Block now stands. It was a story and 
a half house, and was kept by Col. A. A. Bird. It was there 



172 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

I took my first repast in Madison. An incident occurred dur- 
ing my first hours in Madison that I have well remembered. 
On crossing the street, after our evening repast, to the east 
gate of the Capitol square, accompanied by a fellow-passenger, 
we met a person with a surveyor's chain, who walked to the 
capitol with us, and was ready to reply to our various questions, 
occasionally attracting our attention to some new beauty of 
the place. As we passed to the west door, and took a view of 
the town in that direction, I embraced the opportunity to en- 
quire for the residence of Rev. S. K Miner, to whom I had 
letters, when I found I was talking with him. He had just 
been using the surveyor's chain for the purpose of preparing 
for the foundation for the Congregational church. It was the 
building that stands on Webster street, opposite the engine 
house. That building was finished and occupied on the ap- 
proach of the coming winter. Mr. Miner occupied a frame 
house that stood on the lot now occupied by Wayne Ramsay, 
Esq., on the corner of Carroll and Gorham streets. It was 
then owned by R. T. Davis, and afterwards by the successor 
of Mr. Miner, Rev. Chas. Lord. The only house in that vi- 
cinity was on the opposite corner, and occupied by Hon. Geo. 
B. Smith. 

" The block upon the shore of Lake Mendota, between Wis- 
consin avenue and Pinckney street, was soon after purchased 
by Julius T. Clark, Esq., who then predicted that that ridge 
would become desirable residence property, although it was 
then reached by passing through a thick growth of oaks, and 
no streets were defined after leaving the Capitol grounds. The 
streets' as well as the lots were covered by a forest of small 
oaks. John Mallo had a brick yard on the third block west 
of the corner of the Capitol square. The lot where ' Brown's 
Block,' formerly ' Bruen's,' now stands, was mostly covered 
by small trees, as well as the avenue adjoining, and James 
Morrison and others had it in use for their pig-styes. The 
jail, which was a rude log structure, stood near the small brick 
schoolhouse. It had two rooms, one of which was reached by 
passing through the first, and the inner room had some of the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 173 

ancient appliances for securing criminals. The only inmate at 
that time was a James White, who was awaiting his second 
trial for an attempt to shoot Nicholas Smith. He was con- 
fined by a chain attached to one leg, and was or had divested 
himself of most of his clothing. He was tried and convicted 
three times, and the verdict set aside each time on account of 
the just belief of Judge David Irwik, that he was irresponsi- 
ble by reason of insanity. His conduct, after he was finally 
set at liberty, fully justified his course. The next year, the 
jail was occupied by a Frenchman by the name of Gross, who 
was tried for the murder of a man in what is now the town of 
Springfield. Although it was alleged that some gold coin that 
belonged to the man was found in his possession, he was ac- 
quitted. In this jail was also confined, a few years later, the 
'Monk of La Trappe,' who was afterward convicted of murder 
by the Columbia county court, and sentenced to the peniten- 
tiary for life. This Rev. Mr. Leahey had traversed the coun- 
try as a lecturer, which vocation he attempted to resume after 
his pardon, but with so little success that he soon gave it up. 

"The school in the 'Little Brick,' I believe, was then under 
the supervision of Royal Buck, who was succeeded by David 
H. Wright; this house and the old Capitol were the only places 
where religious services were held, until the Congregational 
church edifice was completed. 

"There were four hotels when I came, and the fifth was re- 
opened a few months after. These were the ' American,' kept 
by James Morrison^; the 'Madison House,' by Welch & BusH- 
nell; the 'City Hotel,' by A. A. Bird, and the 'National, by 
R. W. Lansing. The 'Lake House' was re-opened the same 
autumn by J. P. MAKJir. 

"The number of inhabitants was then said to be 400, which 
I believe was a liberal estimate. Surrounding the square were 
the following buildings, as nearly as I can remember: between 
the north and east corners was the building which was early 
known as 'The Tiger,' the American Hotel, W. W. Wymai^'s 
brick house (unfinished), and the United States Block (unfin- 
ished). Between the east and south corner were the City 



174 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Hotel, Shields & S^EEDEiir's store (on the site of S. Klauber 
& Co.'s store), A. L. Collins' and T. W. Sutherland's law 
offices, the building now occupied by W. Yeerhusen, the Na- 
tional Hotel, S. Mills' old residence, and two smaller buildings 
used as saloons. The only house on the side between the south 
and west corners was the house of Henry Gullion, now a part 
of F. A. Ogden's building. Between the west and north cor- 
ner was the residence of John Catlin, Esq., which stood where 
the United States building now stands. The only stores were 
those of Shields & Sneeden, Finch & Blanchard, and E. B. 
Dean & Co.^ but J. C. Fairchild added one a short time after. 
The only house on Main street, southwest from Mr. Mills' 
was that of Thos. Dunn, which was in the second block below 
the Court House. L, F. Kellogg occupied a house nearly op- 
posite his present residence. Peter Kavanaugh had a place 
near the corner of State street and University avenue, and 
there was a house about two blocks westward of that, on Uni- 
versity avenue, which was then temporarily occupied by B. 
Britton. The only house beyond, and near the city limits, 
was that of A. E. Brooks. Nearly all the buildings were 
around and near the Capitol square. King street, from the 
east corner of the park to the Lake House, was the only street 
that was at all defined by improvements, and these in a rude 
way. John Stoner lived near the shore of Lake Mendota, the 
only residence but that of Alex. Wilcox, in that direction. 

" An incident which occurred in March, 1849, will indicate 
the condition of improvements west of the Capitol. As Dr. N. 
M. DoDSON, a medical student, now of Berlin, Wis., was on his 
way from Galena to Madison, he called at the house of Peter 
Kavanaugh to enquire the distance to Madison. It was at twi- 
light, or he would have been guided by the dome of the capitol. 

" I remained here without my family, who joined me in Sep- 
tember, and I was an inmate of the family of David Holt du- 
ring that time. Mr. Holt was then Postmaster, and had his 
office on Webster street, near the old Argus office building. 
We were first established in housekeeping in a rude old struc- 
ture that was situated where J. M. Bowman now resides, and 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 175 

then known as the Schemerhor:^" house, where we remained 
until the following April. I then purchased the building 
known as the '' Tiger," on Pinckney street, where we remained 
until 1850. That building was said to have been a place where 
much money was won and lost at faro and other games, during 
the sessions of the Legislature; an incident not remarkably 
creditable to our early legislators, although, perhaps, as much 
so as the incidents of some of the years since that time. It may 
be supposed that as the times and methods of living were then 
crude, the Legislature and legislators would partake of the 
same characteristics. I have the impression however, that 
those early bodies would compare quite favorably, both in tal- 
ent and definite ideas with most of their successors. 

'' The two persons I first met in alighting from the stage at 
the time I arrived, were A. A. Bird and James Halp^. James 
had charge of the dining room, and made himself generally 
useful. He soon after engaged at the American Hotel then 
kept by James Morrisoj^. He made a contract with Mrs. Mor- 
mso^ to serve for one year, but was to forfeit his wages in case 
he should return to his old habits. He was successful in com- 
plying with his contract, but shortly after the time specified 
had expired, under the influence of an event in his family, and 
of a generous tendency to enjoy the bestowment of hospitality, 
he joined in convivial circles which he was supporting, and 
they culminated in the rapid waste of all they had accumulated, 
including the tidy furniture in their room. After removing 
from the American to a place on the shore of Lake Monona 
near the Lake House, where they lived in wretchedness for a 
time, finding himself without the means for supplying his ap- 
petite for stimulants, he ended his carousal by taking a quan- 
tity of opium that would likely have proved fatal but for the 
use of the stomach pump. How well he recovered from this 
habit, and maintained the character of a respectable citizen, and 
filled the place of trust as Superintendent of Public Prop- 
erty, was observed with peculiar gratification by his friends. 
But he was not always fully himself on account of a free use 
of opium and morphine, aud this often caused his friends to 



176 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

suspect that he had partly returned 'to his old habit. I believe 
he maintained his integritj^ as to the use of common stimulants, 
but his second habit became so strong, that he declared his ina- 
bility to relinquish their use, and he was sometimes nearly as 
much beclouded in his intelligence as formerly. His life was 
a peculiarly eventful one. He was a native of Ireland, and from 
an early age had traversed the ocean as a sailor. He landed 
jfrom a ship in Quebec during the prevalence of the cholera in 
1832, and suffered an attack of the malady, from which he 
rapidly recovered. He then came to the States — enlisted as a 
soldier, and was with Gren. Z. Taylor mostly in the capac- 
ity of a servant, during part of the Black Hawk War. He 
was once entrusted with despatches between Green Bay and 
Prairie du Chien, when he traversed the distance alone, often 
passing the streams by swimming his horse. In April, 1838, 
he was a soldier at Newport, Ky., and with a small detachment 
that was ordered to an upper Mississippi station had taken 
passage on the steamer Moselle, when she blew up at a Cin- 
cinnati landing. His company were all killed or drowned. He 
was thrown from the upper deck into the stream, swam ashore, 
and proceeded to his place of destination and reported in due 
form. Although a roughish kind of an Irishman, he was re- 
markable for the fidelity with which he fulfilled any trust com- 
mitted to him. 

" I cannot recall any who now occupy the same places they 
did at that time, except Mrs. Brigham, William N. Seymour 
and the P yisj-cheons ; and Mrs. Brigham is the only person who 
occupies the same house. David Holt owned and occupied the 
house opposite Gen. David Atavood's. The house that was re- 
cently removed from the corner in order to give place to Gen. 
Atwood's new residence, was occupied by Peter H. Van- Ber- 
GEX, and soon after by Jesse A. Clark. J. G. Knapp was then 
Superintendent of Territorial Property, and lived opposite the 
Capitol House (recently known as theRasdall House), on King 
street. John Y. Smith, Superintendent before Mr. Kkapp, be- 
fore I came, was then of the " Argus " firm with Benjamin- 
Holt and S. Mills. He was then occupying a house from 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 177 

which that of Hon. S. D. Hastings, was remodelled, but moved 
to his own house that autumn, where his first wife died the fol- 
lowing March. Mrs. Smith, as well as her husband, was an 
early resident of Grreen Bay, where she came from New York 
when quite young, as a missionary of the Episcopal church. She 
possessed rare literary qualities which were little known on ac- 
count of her peculiar diffidence. A fragment of her diary, du- 
ring a thunder storm, while passing up Lake Huron, on her 
way to her new home, will indicate her chaste imagination, and 
such as has often conferred a world-wide fame. It was this: 
*' Who but Jehovah could cause the heavens to groan in thun- 
ders, and to weep in showers." 

" There were two early residents of Madison who were not 
well pleased with the improvements which were invading the 
' Four Lake country." They were from Canada — Canadian 
French — and I have the impression that they preceded the 
first permanent residents. These were Louis Moi^ttandois' and 
Philip Covalle. Abel Rasdall lived in the log house which 
had been occupied by the Peck family on Webster street, be- 
low Mrs. Brigham's residence. Wm. M. Rasdall was Deputy 
SheriflP, and had charge of the jail at the time before mentioned. 
Iea W. Bird was Sheriff 'and A. A. Bird, Hotel Keeper, Rev^ 
Charles Lord succeeded Mr. Miner as supply of the Congre- 
gational church in the autumn of 1846. He came from Massa- 
chusetts, but had been a missionary at Independence, Mo. He 
remained until 1854, and bore his part with fidelity in giving 
caste to our early societj^, in which Mrs. Lord was a true help- 
mate. His health, or especially his sight, failed for a time to 
such extent as to render him incapable of performing the neces- 
sary work of preparation, when he returned to his native hills 
in Massachusetts, where he remained, having so far recovered 
as to be able for lighter service. After a brief illness, he died at 
the house of his daughter in Brooklyn, N Y. His predecessor, 
Rev. Mr. Miner, left the ministry a few years after he left Mad- 
ison, and has recently been engaged in successful business in 
Kansas. 

''Justice was for several years mostly dispensed bj^ Esquire- 



178 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Seymour, * who was one of the most active and useful among 
our early citizens, and was a generous leader in every new en- 
terprise of whatever kind. As there was no church edifice for 
several months, the use of the council chamber in the old capi- 
tol was shared by the Congregational and Episcopal churches. 
Rev. Stephen McHugh was the minister of the Episcopal 
church. The Methodists occupied the school house for their 
services. There was no church-bell until June, 1848, when one 
was placed in the Congregational church, and this served for 
common use of the several congregations for about four years. 
I well remember the first time I heard its tones, as I was re- 
turning from my first excursion to Chicago. The bell was not 
yet placed in the tower, but was placed near the corner of 
Webster and Main streets, where 'Squire Seymour would have 
it rung, and when a respectable crowd gathered around it, would 
embrace the opportunity to secure contributions to be used in 
payment for the bell. 

" The number of improved farms throughout the county was 
then, but very few, and consequently, in most cases they were far 
between. My first excursion outside the village in connection 
with the practice of my profession, was to Sugar river, about 
sixteen miles. It was not far from the present residence of 
Yarnum Parkhurst. The patient was a Mrs. Lomary, and 
the messenger, Samuel Parkhurst. I have the impression 
that we did not pass more than four houses on the way. My 
next visit was to John Ensign, who kept a way-side inn called 
the Prairie house, eight miles north-east from town on the old 
Fort Winnebago road. The houses passed on the way beyond 

* William N. Seymour was a son of Hon. Wm. Seymour who represent- 
ed the 20th Congressional district of New York, in the 24th Congress of 
1835-37, and who was a member of the New York Assembly in 1832 and 
1834. He was born at Binghampton, Broome county, New York, April 22, 
1808, and came to Madison January 29, 1838, and has resided here since 
that time. He has held many offices in the town, village and city. He 
was the acting Justice of the Peace for a long series of years, and was the 
first clerk of the city council in 1856. Esquire Seymour is still living at 
Madison, and is one of the well-known characters of the city. For many 
J ear he has suffered from paralysis. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 179 

tlie Lake House, were two m town, one of which stood near the 
East Madison depots, and the other on the lake shore a short 
distance beyond the Spkecher Brewery, occupied by Mrs. 
Houghton. Those beyond the Catfish (now known as the 
Yahara), were those of Groyer, Gould, Thos. Daily and the 
old Seventy-Six house, then occupied by Alex. Botkix, Esq. 
About the same time, 1846, 1 was requested to go to a place near 
•where the MacFarland station now is, to visit one of the fam- 
ily of John Reed. He came over from Second lake (lake Wau- 
besa) in a boat, but proposed that I find my way to his cabin 
by passing around the lake, a portion of the way to be guided by 
an Indian trail which I had not seen. I was not enough confi- 
dent that I could find the way, so he then proposed to take me 
across the lake in a boat, to which plan I assented, on his repre- 
sentation that his place was but half a mile from where we would 
land; but it proved to be as much as two miles and a half. As 
we passed along the Catfish between the Third and Second 
Lakes (lakes Monona and Waubesa), we observed an encamp- 
ment of Winnebago Indians on. the east shore, which probably 
numbered as many as a hundred. This man Reed soon after 
abandoned his family, and his wife became the wife of Matthew 
Dunn. 

" Hon. Hekry Dodge, being then Governor, Geo. P. Dela- 
PLAINE was his Private Secretary, which position he also occu- 
pied during the administration of Governor Dewey. Johjt 
Catlin" was Secretary of the Territor}^, and Joi^'ATHAiir Larkik 
was Treasurer. It was during that year that JoHi^ Catlik 
and E. M. Willamso^s" commenced the arrangement of the 
Dane County Abstract Office, which was supposed to be the 
second one in the Territory. One had already been com- 
menced in Milwaukee. Simeo^st Mills had an interest in 
the Argus office although he was not an active worker on 
the paper, Johk Y. Smith having the editorial supervision. 
Daniel M. Holt was a printer in the same office. The Madison 
Express was then published by W. W. Wyman, and the 
Democrat by Beriah Brown. The Argus and Democrat were 
soon after consolidated, and a new Whig paper started by 



180 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Atwood & Buck called the Wisconsin Express. Elisha Bur- 
dick was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and was suc- 
ceeded by Royal Buck. E. M. "Williamson was Surveyor and 
laid out some of the early roads in the county. Dakwin Clark 
had already established his cabinet shop on the corner of 
his present place, which business he has maintained with 
more than usual stability, as well as the character of a 
worthy and reliable citizen. Geo. A. Gary and Ghas. Bil- 
lings were the village blacksmiths, and Gasper Rouse worked 
for them, and afterward established the business for himself. 
Mr. Rouse is now a resident of Marion Center, Kansas. Peter 
H. Van Bergen (who built the Congregational church), H. G. 

Parker, A. L. Harris, John Easton and Gilchrist 

were the village carpenters and joiners. Barlow Shackle- 
PORD occupied the house which stands next the Hooley Opera 
House on Clymer street, where he died in November, 1846. 
Orlin Rood lived on the farm west of the town that is now 
owned by D. Gampbell. James Dow lived in a place dug out 
of a side hill and covered by a roof 'not far from the " Gary 
Farm," and perhaps, it was on that place. James was one of 
nature's noblemen, but for the habit of using strong drink — 
a habit which he greatly regretted, and made many efforts to 
desist from. He had been a sailor, and was a native of Scot- 
land. Thomas Walker came here from New York by sug- 
gestion of E. B. Dean, and established himself as a tailor. 
That place had mostly been occupied by Nicholas Smith, who 
soon after became a merchant. Luther Wilson and Decatur 
Vandercook established a livery stable during that summer. 
Alonzo Wilcox was the shoemaker, a vocation which he still 
pursues at Spring Green, Sauk county, Wisconsin; although 
he is well fitted for what are commonly regarded as higher 
vocations, although this idea is but a myth, provided the part 
one bears is acted with fidelity. P. W. Matts owned and 
occupied the house next Thompson's Hotel, and was elected 
Sheriff, 1841-2. J. R. Brigham returned that season, having 
just graduated at Amherst College, and entered the law ofiice 
of A. L. GoLLiNS soon after his return. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTBY OF WISCONSIN. 181 

*' The only physicians in the village or county were H. A. 
Tiffany and Dr. Spencek. Two persons of more discordant 
character and characteristics could not Well be found. The 
first named seemed to have plunged into the profession with- 
out much preparation, but the simple character of most of the 
maladies had required but the most simple routine treatment, 
and the possession of an abundance of assurance gave him a large 
practice. Dr. Spencek had enjoyed the best advantages the 
country afforded, which he had well improved and but few 
persons any where are better qualified for the work of a 
medical practitioner. Notwitsthanding this, his practice had 
been much less than that of the other incumbent. A habit 
which too often prevails among persons on the frontier may 
have had some influence in diminishing his patronage, but it 
is said that he became strictly temperate after he left here. 

'' After the establishment of the Democrat as competitor of 
the Argus (which was an organ of the same political party, or 
rather the organ of a party within the party), the contest was 
sharp for the legislative printing. Beriah Browj^ had his 
friends as well as the Argus, but he is said to have put forth 
more effort to secure success. A characteristic little speech in 
a caucus, held before the printer was elected, will indicate the 
character of some legislators. A new member was requested to 
inform the caucus upon whom he wished to have the place con- 
ferred. He arose with more than common deliberation, which 
was said to have been somewhat prolonged on account of his 
ample form having become wedged into an arm chair, and 
expressed the opinion, that Mr. Browk ought to have the 
place, adding, ' we have eat his oysters, aiid drinked his licker, 
and it will not be right to go back on him.' " 

Julius T. Clark, Esq., now of Topeka, Kansas, has fur- 
nished his early reminiscences, as follows : 

"In the year 1840, I had completed my legal studies, and 
was attracted to Madison by reports of the natural beaut}' and 
salubrity of its location, as well as by its prospective advan- 
tages as the future capital of the State. I arrived in Madison 
in the month of August in the year above named. On my way 



182 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

from Ottawa, 111., where I had been residing, I passed through 
Beloit and Janesville, the former containing some half a dozen 
houses; the latter, but one, made of upright boards, and which 
was built for the accommodation of the stage, which was run- 
ning somewhat regularly on that route. There were then a 
number of buildings in Madison, the principal ones being the 
American Hotel, on the northwest corner of Pinckney street 
and Washington avenue, and the Madison Hotel, on the south 
side of King street, east of the Capitol grounds, (both since 
burned), one frame store building belonging to James Morri- 
son, just above the Madison Hotel, a small printing office, and 
several dwellings — some of logs and some of boards. The 
walls of the old Territorial Capitol were up, and the building 
enclosed, but the inside was almost entirelj^ in an unfinished 
state. On my first visit, as above stated, I found the District 
Court in session. Judge Irvin presiding, and S. Mills, Clerk, 
^vith quite a number of cases on the docket, mostly marked 
with the names of John Catlin, William N. Seymour and 
David Brigham, as attorneys, Seymour having rather the 
largest number of cases. This fact may account for my form- 
ing a partnership with him in the law practice, which lasted 
a 3^ear or more. The improvements at Madison were, at that 
time, confined almost entirely to that part of King street lying 
between the east corner of the Capitol grounds and Third 
Lake, and that part of Pinckney street fronting the northeast 
line of the Capitol grounds. W. W. Wyman and J. A. Noo- 
NAN were each publishing a paper, the former an administra- 
tion paper, and of which I had the editorial charge for some 
time, and the latter an opposition paper, as parties then ex- 
isted. The steam saw mill, where most of the lumber was 
manufactured for the construction of the Capitol and other 
buildings, stood on the bank of the Fourth Lake, at the foot 
of the hill just below the residence of the late B. F. Hopkins. 
With the exception of the small portions I have named above, 
almost the entire area of what is, at this day, the beautiful city 
of Madison, was in its wild and native condition: and what is 
now the most attractive portion of the city, was then, and for 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 183 

some years later, almost an impassable forest, with a dense un- 
dergrowth of young trees and briars, through which I used to 
make my way hunting for partridges and other game, with 
great difficulty. I refer to the ridge or high lands on the south- 
eastern border of the Fourth Lake. But the greatest change 
has taken place in the character of the level stretch of land 
lying between the two lakes on the east side of the city. In 
the early settlement of the place, most of that part of the city 
was covered with water, especially in the spring of the year, 
when the lakes were full. At such times, fishermen in their 
boats would spear abundance of fish in its shallow waters. The 
first real, and at all successful attempt to redeem this flat from 
the water was made by Gov. Farwell, in connection with the 
German Baron Mohr, by means of ditching and planting trees, 
about 1849-50. The low land on the south side of the town, 
extending from the Third Lake, by the Fourth Ward school 
building, around to the north of the Milwaukee and Prairie du 
Chien depot grounds, was also for a long time covered more 
or less with water, and, in some portions, was impassable at all 
times. 

" The original plat of Madison only extended half a mile 
from the Capitol on the west. The history of the University 
addition is this : The Congress of the LTnited States had donat^ 
ed to the State of Wisconsin a certain quantit}^ of land for the 
establishment and endowment of a University to be located at 
or near the Capitol. The duty of selecting a site and commenc- 
ing operations devolved upon the Board of Regents elected by 
the Legislature in 1848, of which board I was a member. The 
other members were: E. Root, S. Mills, H. Barber, A. L. 
Collins, J. H. Rountree, J. Bannister. T. W. Sutherland 
and RuFUS Kikg. Adjoining the town plat on the w^est, was a 
quarter section of land which included in its boundary the ele- 
vation upon which the University buildings now statid. This 
quarter section we found could be purchased at a moderate ex- 
pense, if I remember correctly, about twelve dollars per acre. 
The Regents purchased it, reserved forty acres for LTniversity 
purposes, and platted the remainder as an addition to the city, 



ISi HISTORY OF MADISON AlSD THE 

to be sold for the benefit of the University fund. From sales 
of these lots there was realized nearly or quite an amount suf- 
ficient to erect and complete the first of the buildings now on 
the grounds, in addition to the original cost of the land. I do 
not know the exact number of the population of Madison 
when I came, but it was quite small, as the census for that year 
{1840), showed the population of the whole of Dane coun- 
ty, including Madison, to be only 314. The growth of the town 
from the time I became a citizen, was not very rapid, for sev- 
eral years. Even in A. D. 1846, when I commenced my im- 
provements on blocks 94 and 95, on the banks of the Fourth 
Lake, it was the first instance in which any improvement had 
been made in that part of the town, and almost the first on the 
northwest side of the Capitol park. Even after I had com- 
pleted and was occupying my house, my friends would jokingly 
ask me how I liked my country life, and whether I had any dif- 
ficulty in finding my way back and forth. The brush which I 
grubbed out in clearing a place for my house, was made into a 
fence, which answered a very good purpose for some time in 
that capacity. 

" One reason, perhaps, why the growth of Madison was slow, 
at first, may lie in the fact that for several years, at almost or 
quite every session of the Legislature, an eff'ort was made to re- 
move the Capitol to some other place, generally to Milwaukee, 
and this effort upon the part of the members from that place, as 
well as the general hostility which its citizens entertained, or 
at least, were thought by the people of Madison to entertain 
towards Madison, tended to create an aggrieved and embittered 
feeling towards the former city; which I doubt not still exists 
to a greater or less degree, in the minds, at least, of the early 
settlers of Madison. Another fruitful source of trouble and 
perplexity at that time was the uncertainty regarding the title 
to the town lots. There were three plats of the town on re- 
cord, each of them differing from the others and made by two 
different parties. Time and the adjudication of the courts have 
long since settled these questions which were once a prolific 
source of litigation and strife. If any one is curious to know 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 185 

the nature of these contests, an examination of the records of 
the courts of that time will give him all desired information. 

" The town, for some time, had but little business to sustain 
it, except what it received as the Capital of the Territory, 
through the Legislature, the courts and the residence of the 
state officials ; and the affairs of government were then man- 
aged with more economy than now. The Territory was in all 
parts sparsely settled, and during the sessions of the Legisla- 
ture such of the more prominent settlers as were not actual 
members of that body, were very sure to be present, either look- 
ing after some public or private interest, or to pass the time in 
social enjoyment; for it is one of the pleasantest recollections 
of that period, that there was a heartiness and warmth of at- 
tachment and good fellowship felt and manifested without 
stint among those early pioneers, which has not existed since 
their time. It was not uncommon to have. social entertain- 
ments given, at which there would be present invited guests 
from Green Bay, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Mineral Point, 
Platteville, Prairie du Chien and all the then settled parts of 
the State; and this, notwithstanding the almost entire want of 
any public conveniences for traveling either in the matter of 
roads or vehicles. Such an one had just been held and very 
largely attended only the day before the cruel fate of the la- 
mented Arndt — a very sad termination to one of the most 
successful and pleasant festive gatherings that the village has seen 
either in its earlier or later history. Among the guests was 
the father of Arkdt. He was one of the old residents of Green 
Bay, and was quite advanced in years, — a gentleman of great 
respectability and unblemished character. He had made that 
long and tedious winter journey for the purpose of meeting his 
son, around whom the hopes and affections of his declining 
years centered with a very strong paternal fondness, — and not 
without reason, for the younger Arkdt possessed in a high 
degree, in addition to his mental endowments, those amiable 
and social qualities which attached to him very warmly those 
who shared his friendship. The Territorial Council, of which 
Arndt was a member, occupied the room on the east side, or 
13 



186 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

rather in the east corner, and the House of Representatives the 
room at the north corner of the old Capitol. It was at the 
close of the morning session, which had been somewhat stormy 
— and the debates which had been elicited on certain nomina- 
tions made to the Council by Gov. Doty, had been considerably 
personal, and acrimonious and irritating in their character, es- 
pecially on the part of him who was soon to leave the room a 
homicide. The President had experienced some difficulty in 
maintaining order during a portion of the debate just before the 
adjournment; and fearing a personal collision, as soon as he 
declared the session adjourned, he stepped rapidly from the desk 
to place himself between the irritated parties, but failed to 
reach them in time to avert the catastrophe — the fatal shot 
had been given, penetrating the heart of the unfortunate 
Arndt, who fell back into the arms of those who were stand- 
ing near, and expired immediately without a struggle. His 
father was in the opposite hall at the time, and hearing the 
commotion, came, with others, into the Council Chamber, little 
imagining the deep interest he had in what had transpired. I 
was present during the whole of the morning session, and near 
the parties at the time of the occurrence, and thus a witness of 
the whole tragedy; and of all the sad recollections of that event, 
that which is the most vivid, is the unutterable anguish and 
desolation of the elder Arndt when he saw his son, so lately 
full of life and hope, lying on the floor, still in death. As to 
the character of the deed, I never had a doubt. The slayer had 
been the aggressor from the beginning, and had employed ir- 
ritating and insulting language in the course of the debate, and 
when called upon for explanation, met it on the moment 
against an unarmed man with the deadly shot. 

" I have mentioned the store of James Morrison" as the first 
which was opened, and the only one for some time after my ar- 
rival in Madison. It had been established for the purpose of 
affording supplies to the contractors and workmen on the pub- 
lic buildings. As his stock became exhausted, he neglected to 
replenish, and for some time we were dependent for our sup- 
plies upon a peddler's cart, which made us an occasional visit, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 187 

with the most needful articles of dry goods and notions — the 

proprietor of which was, if I remember right, a Mr. L , who 

is now a wealthy banker in a neighboring city. I believe 1 
have forgotten who started the next store. It might have been 
J. D. Weston", followed by the Messrs. Deajn" and others. Of 
course there were not any church buildings at that early day. 
Before I came — two churches had occasional services, a Presby- 
terian and an Episcopalian. The first preacher of the former 
was a Mr. Quaw, who remained but a short time on account 
of ill-health, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Slingerla^std, 
who effected a permanent organization; in A. D. 1841, my 
brother, J. M. Clark, became pastor of the church, and con- 
continued with it between two and three years, when he was, 
appointed Chaplain of the post at Fort Winnebago. The pas- 
tor of the Episcopal church was the Rev. Mr. Philo, a very 
kind, earnest and simple-hearted man; a characteristic anec- 
dote of whom I cannot resist the impulse to repeat. During 
the sessions of the Legislature, there was (a common thing in_ 
the west in those days), a good deal of gambling practiced; and 
although severe laws had been enacted against it, yet so little 
attention was paid to enforcing them, that there were several 
places in the town where gambling was carried on in as public 
a manner as though it had been an ordinary, innocent amuse- 
ment; several members of the Legislature being among the 
most ardent of its devotees. In the winter of 1811, the la- 
dies of the town took the matter in hand, and made an 
earnest and energetic effort for the suppression of both gam- 
bling and drinking. Through their influence, a mass meet- 
ing was held in one of the halls of the Capitol to consider the 
best means of accomplishing the desired object. Everybody at- 
tended, citizens, strangers, members of the Legislature; all 
were there, men, women and children. All sides of the ques- 
tions being represented, the discussions which followed were 
considerably animated, some of the speakers finding their 
speech and their poise a little too difficult from the present 
feet of having imbibed a little too freely before going. It was 
said, among other things, that the laws already passed were 



188 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

amply sufficient to meet the case, if honestly and faithfully ad- 
ministered, and that the fault, if anywhere, was with the offi- 
cers, whose duty it was to see to the proper execution of the 
laws. W. N. Seymour, who was then, and for years afterwards, 
justice of the peace, was present, and taking the remark as a 
personal reflection upon his official integrity, arose and defend- 
ed himself from the charge. After he had taken his seat, Mr. 
Philo, or ' Dominie ' Philo, as he was morp commonly called, 
arose, and addressed the chair as follows: ' Mr. Chairman: I 
arise to move to make a motion. The motion which I wish to 
make, I hold in my hand. I will read the motion. ' Motion; 
That William N. Seymour is a good and sufficient Justice of 
the Peace, and I hope the motion will prevail.' The character 
of the motion, together with the earnestness and naivete of 
manner in which it was delivered, was too much for the gravity 
of the house to stand, and the meeting was forced to adjourn 
amidst a perfect tumult of cheering, without heing able again 
to address itself to the consideration of the subjects for which it 
had been held ; and Mr. Seymour's right to be considered ' a 
good and sufficient Justice of the Peace,' was no t regarded as 
an open question from that time. 

" I might relate anecdotes of other early pioneers, and recall 
other experiences; but perhaps I ought rather to apologize for 
even the perso/iaZ sketches I have alread}- given. That which 
may interest the parties who participated in those early inci- 
dents and experiences, and who find a real pleasure in recalling 
them, can scarcely be supposed to awaken anything like the 
same degree or kind of interest in those who only know the 
city, as what it has since become. If the city is beautiful 
to-day, with its gem of a Capitol, its shaded, clean kept streets, 
its almost palatial residences, and its numerous tidy homes, the 
result of its prosperity and accumulated wealth, it was no less 
beautiful when the log cabin of Abel Rasdall overlooked 
the beautiful Monona and grassy slope on the shady woodland 
which bordered its clear waters. My years of absence have not 
diminished my love for its well remembered haunts. There is 
not a spot of that piece of earth which lies so sweetly between 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 189 

the waters of the unfolding Lakes, which is not endeared to me 
by many an incident whose recollection is still fresh as when 
they transpired. Nature and art stimulated by its natural 
beauty, have both conspired to make Madison distinguished as 
a most lovely city; and my earnest desire in its behalf is, that 
its citizens may ever be as distinguished for virtue and intelli- 
gence, and all that beautifies and ennobles human life." 

1847. In the month of February, the Wisconsin Argus was 
enlarged to seven columns. Mr. S. Mills retired from the firm, 
and the same changed to Tenkey, Smith & Holt. During the 
Constitutional Conventions of 1846 and 1847-8, the paper was 
issued as a tri-weekly. 

At the spring election, April 6, the following persons were 
elected town officers: Wm. C Wells, Chairman; A. Rasdall, 
C. Bushnell, Supervisors; J. R. Brigham, Clerk; D. Clark, 
Treasurer; H. Hill and D. A. Barnard, Assessors; Squire 
Lamb, Collector; D. H. Wright, J. G. Knapp and B. Holt, 
School Commissioners; C. Bushnell, A. Harris and G. M. 
Oakley, Justices. Vote for State Constitution — ayes, 154; 
nays, 125. For suffrage to colored persons — ayes, 18 ; nays, 
176. A tax of one per cent, was levied for town pur- 
poses. The election for corporation officers was held March 1, 
and the following persons elected by a majority of 60 over the 
opposition ticket: A. L. Collij^^s, President; B. Holt, C. 
Bushnell, W. Pyncheon, D. B. Sneeden, G. A. Cary and W. 
Welch, Trustees; J. R. Brigham, Clerk; B. W. Wilson 
Marshal; N. S. Emmons, Treasurer; J. T. Wilson, Assessor. 

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, held March 23, all 
that portion of Dane county known as the village of Madison, 
was organized under the name of "Madison Village School 
District No. 1." 

An enumeration of school children, taken March 10, showed 
that there were 142 children between the ages of four and 
twenty. The amount of school money apportioned the dis- 
trict was $232.48. The annual statement of the Board, made 
for the year ending October, 1847, showed that two male and 
one female teachers were employed. School taught by a male 



190 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

teacher, nine months; and nineteen weeks b}^ female teach- 
ers. 

On the 4th of June, the Board of Supervisors made a report 
of resources and expenditures to April 6, 1847: Whole amount 
of receipts, 13,200.48; expenditures, 12,510.82. 

The Madison Express^ of March 23, referring to the growth 
of the village, says: "From present appearance, building 
would be, this season, three-fold greater than in any previous 
year. Among the rest, is the brick academy, which is to cost 
about $3,000. This building, to which reference has been 
made as having received aid from the State, was located on lot 
4, block 82, corner of Wisconsin avenue and Johnson street. 
In this building the preparatory department of the State Uni- 
versity was held soon after its organization. The building was 
demolished in May, 1873, to make room for the new City High 
School. 

At a meeting of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, held in June, 1847, a petition was received for 
a charter of a lodge to be located at Madison, to be called 
"Hope Lodge, No. 17." A dispensation was granted, and the 
lodge instituted on the 15th. The following persons were the 
charter members: P. G.'s Charles Holt, C. B. Chapman^, J. 
Y. Smith, Noah Clemens and William Welch. C. B. Chap- 
man, N. G.; J. Y. Smith, V. G.; N. Clemens, Secretary, and 
Ben^jamin Holt, Treasurer. The first meeting was held in 
the brick building on Main street, then known as the " Argus 
Building." Among the early members of this lodge were D. 
Vandercook, Geo. M. Oakley, J. G. Knapp, Jas. Halpin. 

The telegraph was this year set up between Milwaukee and 
Madison. A. C. In^gham and B. F. Hopkii^s were the first op- 
erators at Madison. 

The Convention which assembled here December 16, 1847, to 
form a State Constitution, having completed their work on the 
first of February, was, by the vote of the people, approved in 
April,, 1848, and Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on an 
equal footing with the other States, on the 29th of May. 

The assessed valuation of the real estate of the village, in 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 191 

1847, was $39,116, and personal property, $8,600; total, 147,716. 
Amount of tax, $200. The principal merchants during the 
year were, E. B. Dean^, Jr., assessed $3,500 personal; Shields 
& Sneedei^, $2,500; Nicholas Smith, $1,500; FmcH & Blai^- 
CHARD, $600; A. BoYLES & Co., $400; R. Price, $100. 

July 4th celebration was observed as usual. David Lambert, 
orator; D. B. S:^^EEDEI^, reader; and Rev. Chas. Lord, chap- 
lain. 

The census of the village was taken this year by E. Burdick, 
whole number, 1,159, the year previous it was 626. S. Mills 
advertised, in December, that he was building a saw mill, and 
wished to purchase 1,000 l©gs. 

The Argus, of December 14, says: ''One hundred Indians 
are encamped on the north side of Lake Mendota (Fourth 
Lake), three miles from this place, and have been there some 
weeks, and have almost annihilated the deer." 

J. G. Kn^app, Superintendent of Public Property, in his 
reminiscences of Madison, 1846-7, says: 

" At that time the Park was more than half covered with 
hazel bushes and oak grubs. The first were destroyed by mow- 
ing, and the last were dug up. The wild grass was succeeded 
by the present grasses, partly by sowing the seed, and partly 
spontaneous or self-sowing. The trees then were the merest 
bush, were trimmed up to about six feet, that being nearly 
one-half their entire height. In 1847, I contracted with 
Alex. McBride, at fifty cents a tree, for planting out the row 
of maples and elms next to the Park fence, he agreeing to war- 
rant their growth. This was done without authority of law, 
and before any appropriation had beeni made for that purpose. 
That legislative body could never have been induced to make 
such an appropriation, for the reason that there was then the 
greatest opposition to all appropriations for future benefit; 
and because there was at that time a determination on the part 
of many members to remove the seat of government to some 
other place. It was therefore with the greatest difiiculty that 
the Legislature could be induced to make an appropriation to 
pay for those trees. I have often asked, what price the State 



192 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

would now fix upon those same trees ? To these small begin- 
nings, this assuming of responsibility, I look back and see 
what our beautiful Park has since become — the ornament of 
the most handsomely located city in the Union, the brightest 
setting of any Capitol on the continent, if not in the world. 
If it be such now, when less than half finished, what will it be 
in a few years, after the hand of the tasteful landscape gardener 
shall have brought to light its innate loveliness ? 

" Two other acts, the responsibility of doing which I assumed, 
will be briefl}^ noticed. The old Capitol was, by some strange 
design of the architect, planned without basement rooms, al- 
though the walls were about seven feet below the base, and had 
doors and windows at each end. For many years these cellars 
formed sleeping apartments for the loose hogs of the town, and 
not unfrequently their music was less enchanting than jEolian 
harps, or grand old organ tones. It struck me that this por- 
tion of the building could be better employed, and as the re- 
moval of some three feet of earth in depth was necessary, I let 
a contract for that purpose, at twenty cents a yard square. 
Into this space the dr}^ wood was transferred, and found mak- 
ing much less noise than the hogs had made before. Soon 
after, that portion of the house having new windows cut on 
the sides, was made into rooms and offices, and was thus used 
until the lights were darkened by the construction of the new 
building." 

This year, 1847, L. J. Farwell, * of Milwaukee, attracted 

* Hon. Leonard J. Farwell was the son of Capt. James Farwell and Re- 
becca Cady his wife, and was born at Watertown, New York, January 5,, 
1819. His father died in 1830 and his mother in 1824. After a short 
experience as clerk in a dry goods store, he became apprentice to a tin- 
smith, and followed that occupation until the age of nineteen. He first re- 
moved to Lockport, Illinois, with a small stock of hardware and a few tools 
of his trade, and for the time and place, soon established a thriving busi- 
ness. In January, 1840, he sold out his stock and store, and removed to 
the then new village of Milwaukee, in the Territory of Wisconsin, and em- 
barked in business on a larger scale, and in a few years was at the head of 
one of the largest wholesale houses in the west. Ten years later, owing to^ 
impaired health and having secured a large fortune for those days, he with- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTBY OF WISCONSIN. 193 

"by the beauty of the location, and foreseeing its advantages as 
a place of business, made an extensive purchase of real estate^ 
comprising a portion of the village plat and of lands lying ad- 
jacent, which included the unimproved water power between 
lakes Monona and Mendota. To the active enterprise, the lib- 
eral policy and the public spirit of this gentleman, Madison is 
largely indebted for her present prosperity. During the follow- 
ing winter, he commenced the improvement of the Madison 
water power. The fall between the lakes as taken by a number 
of engineers, varied from three feet ten inches to four feet- 
eleven inches. This variation was unquestionably owing to a 
variation in the lakes at the several times the levels were taken, 
lake Monona being much the smaller, would he more affected 
by a rain storm than the other. Among his first works were 
the improvements of the water power and the erection of mills 
to which attention has been before given. His efforts at once 
infused new life into the settlement. Real estate, hitherto al- 
most without value, began to be sought for, and to improve in 
price. Streets were cleared of their forests, roads were laid out 

drew from mercantile traffic to engage in other enterprises. In 1847, he 
visited Madison, and effected a large purchase of village property, includ- 
ing the unoccupied water power, and soon after made a trip to Europe 
and Eastern countries, returning in 1849. On his return, he began the im- 
provement of the water power, the erection of mills, the opening of 
streets, draining of low lands, and other measures designed to benefit the 
village. In 1851, he was nominated for Governor by the Whig party, and 
was elected ; the remainder of the state ticket was Democratic. 

Gov. Farwell was married September 20, 1853, to Miss Frances A., 
daughter of Gen. A. N. Corss of Madison, formerly of Watertown, New 
York; she died at Washington, D. C, April 15, 1868. The financial re- 
vulsion of 1857, proved very severe on the fortunes of Gov. Farwell, as he 
was largely interested in railroad enterprises, and their value being de- 
pressed, he was obliged to suspend and close up his business. In the spring 
of i863, he was appointed by President Lincoln, an assistant examiner in the 
Patent Office, Washington, and three months later, was Principal Exami- 
ner of Inventions, a position he held for nearly seven years, when he re' 
signed to re-embark in the'same business at Chicago; at the.latter place, he 
suffered by loss at the great fire in October, 187 1. He has sincethat time 
lived at Grant City, Worth county. Mo. 



194 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

to the surrounding prairies, bridges were built, the low lands 
drained, road-ways carried through them and lined with shade 
trees; and buildings and improvements of all kinds begun to rise 
among the trees, and dot the distant prairies. He matured a 
comprehensive system of advertising the advantages of the 
country abroad, and scores of thousands of pamphlets filled with 
valuable information, were spread all over the eastern states and 
Europe. 

Perhaps no one person did more to promote the interests of 
Madison than Mr., since known as Gov. Fabwell. No import- 
ant interest, structure, or association was inaugurated which he 
either did not originate or contribute to its success by his means 
or influence. He not only built mills, to which allusion has 
been made, but started the first woolen factory, and the first 
machine shop and foundry. He set the example of first grad- 
ing and filling streets, and building side and cross-walks, and in 
the projected railroad enterprises, designed to benefit Madison, 
he embarked heartily and liberally. In 1857, owing to the 
great financial difficulties of that year, he became involved like 
many others, and his fortunes seriously affected. The citizens 
of Madison will always bear cheeerful witness to the greatness 
of his efforts, which had for their object the promotion of her 
best interests. 

The information relative to Gov. Farwell's public improve- 
ments and his private life are taken from a Chicago Magazine. 

Some correspondent furnishes for one of the village papers 
an account of the first bell in Madison : 

" The advent of the first bell in Madison marks a kind of 
epoch in our remembrance. It was, if our memory is not at 
fault, in July, 1847. The occasion which originated the pur- 
chase was a political caucus held in the April preceding, when 
' hunker ' and ' tadpole ' did rend and divide over the large 
vote of seventy-two persons; all comprised, too, within the 
limits of the present town of Madison. Unlike the modern 
style of caucus, it was thought respectful and decent to wait 
until every person had time to attend and be heard, if he desired 
to be. The ' people ' in those days did not see themselves 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 195 

represented by delegates thrust in at the moment before they 
could assemble. That practice is more modern. Well, at that 
April gathering, the first comers waited patiently two hours; 
and it was found on assembling that watches and clocks disa- 
greed to just that extent. To avoid another such discrepancy, 
the writer hereof suggested the purchase of a bell which would 
signal all alike on every public occasion, and that a subscrip- 
tion follow the ' scrimmage.' The result was an early appear- 
ance of Esq. Seymour, who attended to ' those branches,' with 
ihe proper paper, which was certainly very generously signed^ 
and the Messrs. N. W. & E. B. Deai^, merchants, took it upon 
themselves to furnish the ' instrument.' 

" Sometime in Julj^ aforesaid, about the hour of noon, a 
solitary team, which had wended its waj^ out from Milwaukee, 
arrived, bringing the treasure and its hanging arrangements 
complete — reported at the old Argus office — and the teamster 
was advised and assisted by the boys, to land his load at the 
old (then new) Congregational church, as most likely to be the 
proper place for it — no arrangement having been made or 
thought of as to where it should be placed. It was scarcely off 
of the wagon before it was suspended upon its iron frame on 
the ground, and set to ringing. 

" The effect of its first vibrations upon the community — 
nearl}^ all of whom were at dinner — was in the highest degree 
sensational. As the loud clear notes vibrated through the 
adjacent forest, and across the clear spaces, it was as if an 
electric spark had thrilled through every household. Every 
one rushed to greet the new-comer, and for an hour or two 
took turns in keeping it at full swing. By a kind of spon- 
taneous efiPort, and without any one's consent, it was hauled 
Tip into the little ' dormitory,' with legs pointed skyward, the 
theory of which was a steeple; and for several days and nights 
it seemed as if the public would never tire of the ringing. 
Indeed, Esq. Seymour, who was recognized chief in charge, 
was, we almost suspected, several times victimized by some of 
the mischievous boys, after the public ear had got sore with 
listening, and kept on the trot at unseemly hours, to secure the 
bell rope, which had a propensity to swing loose. 



196 BISTORT OF MADISON AND THE 

"The sound of a bell striking upon the ear when one is 
away from brick and mortar, or a crowd, is always pleasant. 
But at that time, many had not heard the sound for years. 
^ These valleys and rocks never heard ' the sound before. Its 
deep, rich tones broke out suddenly, when none were expect- 
ing to hear them, like a great wave of music, spreading far and 
wide, over wood, lakes and prairies — reaching to the very few 
settlers in the country, some of whom came in five miles to 
hear it rung, or ring it for themselves. It was a sensation of 
the time; and though Madison has many good bells now, none 
have ever thrilled the community as this. Its tones are so 
sweet and familiar, that we 3^et pause to listen to it, singling it 
out from the others, even when all are ringing. It marks an 
era, and ought to be treasured by some of the churches, if it 
has not been^ as the pioneer of its kind — as it was the first 
whose tones vibrated over these hills and lakes, and heralded 
the advent of that advancing multitude who now people the 
shores, and have marked the country on all sides with visible 
evidences of civilization and Christianity. 

" A few weeks ago a notice was made in some of the papers, 
that a bell was wanted for an engine house, and a proposition 
to buy one of the church bells. Was this the old one ? I trust 
not." 

The First Baptist Church in Madison was organized Decem- 
ber 23, 1847, composed of twenty constituent members. Rev. 
H. W. Read became the first pastor; he resigned in March, 1849, 
when he went out as pioneer minister to New Mexico. In 
October, 1849, Rev. Johit Williams was chosen pastor, but 
resigned the February ensuing, and in the summer of 1851, 
Rev. S. S. WniTMAJiT,* formerly professor in Hamilton Insti- 
tute, New York, came from Belvidere, 111., and became pastor 
of the church; but his labors were of brief duration. He died 

*Rev. S. S. Whitman was born at Shaftsburj, Vt., in 1803. He was 
educated at Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute, New York, and 
graduated at Hamilton College. After which he was called to the chair 
of Biblical Interpretation, in the first named institution. He held this po- 
sition for seven years, and, in 1836, removed to Belvidere, 111., where he 



FOUB LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 197 

after a short illness, on the 2d of January, 1852. The history 
of this church will be hereafter continued. 

H. A. Tenn^ey erected his two-story frame dwelling house 
on Washington avenue, near Carroll street, on lot 3, block 74, 
and was, as he says, the first settler southwest of the Capitol 
square, except Henkt Gullioi^'s house, next to Grace Church. 
All the lots in that portion of the village were covered with 
trees or brush. 

Dan^iel Baxter, in the fall of this year, laid the foundation 
of the brick dwelling house on the corner of Main and Carroll 
streets, which was regarded as one of the most elegant private 
residences in the village at that time. The building was com- 
pleted in 1848. This property was subsequently sold to N. W. 
Deai^, Esq., who occupied it for a number of years, when it 
was taken down, and the site improved by the erection of the 
Park Hotel. Mr. Baxter was then engaged in merchandising 
on King street. His claim on the State for balance due on 
building the old Capitol has a State reputation, and was regu- 
larly brought before the Legislature yearly. The old gentle- 
man has since died, and his claim is still unsettled. 

Until the year 1848, the growth of the village was slow, 
and many causes operated to retard its progress. Imme- 
diately after the location of the capital, all the lands in the vi- 
cinity were entered by speculators and non-residents, and lots 
and lands were held at a prospective value — much higher than 
they have reached at any time since. Many years, and many 
vicissitudes were to be passed, however, before settlers gained 
much foothold. It was a hamlet in the midst of a mighty 
waste of natural fertility, and for a long period all supplies had 
to be wagoned for a distance of a hundred miles on either 
hand. It was not, indeed, until about this date, that the ad- 
vancing settlers from east and west met midway, and com- 
menced the wonderful change which transferred the country 

preached ten years, as pastor of the Baptist Church. In June, 1851, he 
assumed the charge of the church at Madison, Wis., and continued in that 
office until his death, January 2, 1852. He was then in the fiftieth year of 
his age. 



198 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

into the garden and granary it lias since become. The location 
being at a central point between the Mississippi and Lake 
Michigan, the advancing army of immigrants, on either hand, 
found a wide, fertile and beautiful extent of country, at that 
time nearer market, and therefore holding out superior attrac- 
tions to the agriculturist. They did not, consequently, care to 
indulge the speculator's appetite for fancy prices. In the mean- 
time, the fertile valley of the Rock river had been filled witL 
settlers, and immigration began to turn into Dane county, 
which possesses a soil as bountiful, and a surface as attractive 
as any county in the State, but which, before it was tapped by 
railroads, was too far from market to render the cultivation of 
the soil remunerative. 

The beginning of the real prosperity and growth of Madison 
commenced with the admission of the State into the Union in 
1848. The Constitutional Convention then permanently lo- 
cated the capital here. Until this time there had been fears of 
its removal, and capitalists had hesitated to invest their money 
in the vicinity. 

Since that period, its progress in wealth and population has 
been rapid and constant. '' A great many efforts have been 
made to depict the beauties of Madison, but no words can con- 
vey an adequate idea of what is, indeed, indescribable. The 
reason of this is that every new point of observation creates a 
shifting panorama — that no two exhibit the same scenery. 
From any considerable elevation, a circuit of near thirty miles 
in every direction is visible. Four lakes lie embosomed like 
gems, shining in the midst of groves of forest trees, while the gen- 
tle swells of the prairies, dotted over by fields and farms, lend a 
charm to the view which words cannot depict. From the dome 
of the Capitol to the dome of the State University, the whole 
bearing and aspect of the country is so changed as scarcely to 
be recognized as identical. On the west, the lofty peak of the 
West Blue Mound, twenty-five miles away, towers up against 
the sky, like a grim sentinel guarding the gateway toward the 
setting sun, while the intermediate setting is filled in with 
swelling hills, majestic slopes, levels and valleys of rivers and 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 199 

rivulets. Madison is the center of a circle whose natural beau- 
ties compass all that is charming to the eye, grateful to the 
senses, pleasing to the imagination, and which, from its vari- 
ety and perfection, never grows tedious or tiresome to the spec- 
tator. The good taste of the citizens has preserved the native 
forest trees, so that its dwellings are embowered in green, and 
buried in foliage in the proper season, to that extent that the 
whole city cannot be seen from any point of view. It is, in 
itself, unique, like its surroundings, and the transient traveler 
gains no conception of the place by barely passing through it." 

A meeting of the citizens of the town was held, March 11^ 
1848, of which Geo. H. Slaughter was President; W. A. 
Wheeler, Geo. Thompson and J. K. Porter of Rock county, 
were Vice-Presidents, and R. L. Ream, Secretary. A resolu- 
tion was adopted, " that it is expedient to build a railroad from 
Madison to Janesville to intersect the Galena and Chicago Rail- 
road." In the month of April, 1848, an exciting trial took 
place before Judge D. Irwin^ of the United States District 
Court, the case of the United States vs. Jacob Gross for the 
murder of Charles Kohlman, in which Chauncey Abbott and 
Geo. B. Smith were counsel for the government, and A. L. Col- 
lins and Thos. W. Sutherland for the defense. The jury 
brought in a verdict of " not guilty." 

Assessed valuation of village property, 1848, was — Real, 
148,803; Personal, $12,850— Total, $61,653; Tax, $308.26. 
The corporation officers for this year were: A. L. Collins, 
President; J. C. Fairchild, J. P. Mann, C. Abbott, Wm. 
Pyncheon, H. C. Parker, D. Mallo, Trustees; J. R. Brigham, 
Clerk; Alfred Main, Assessor, and I. W. Bird, Treasurer. 
Mr. Brigham served as clerk of the Board from April 1846, to 
June, 1851. 

In pursuance of a requirement of the new State Constitution^ 
the first State Legislature held on the summer of 1848, vested 
the government of the " University of Wisconsin " in a Board 
of Regents, to consist of a President and twelve members to be 
elected by the Legislature, and hold office for the term of six 
years. This legislature also located the University in Dane 



200 HISTORY OF MADISON AJND THE 

county, and appointed a commission for the sale of the Univers- 
ity lands, and the investment of the proceeds. 

The first meeting of the Board of Regents was held October 
7, 1848, at which time it was decided to open a Preparatory 
Department for the reception of pupils, in February, 1849. 
John W. Sterling was elected Professor of Mathematics, and 
appointed to take charge of the Preparatory Department at the 
time designated. The present site was selected and the purchase 
consummated the following year. The tract which was pur- 
chased of A. Vanderpoel, was the N. W. 1-4 of section 23, 
town 7, range 9, except block 9 of the village of Madison. 
The price stipulated was 15 per acre, and the taxes of 1849. 
At the same meeting of the Board of Regents, John H. Lath- 
KOP, LL. D., was elected Chancellor, and his salary fixed at 
$2,000. 

The Madison Express^ which had been published by W. W. 
Wyman, was purchased October 9, 1848, by David At wood 
and Royal Buck, and its publication resumed under the title 
of Wisconsin Express,''^ and was published until Junel, 1852, 
during a portion of which time, Alvin E. Bovay was associated 
with the publishers. During the session of the Legislature in 
1852 it was issued as a daily. 

Proposals were advertised to be received for the erection of 
the Methodist church, to be built of brick, 36 by 50 feet, on the 
corner of Mifflin and Pinckney streets, to be left with Bekj. 
Holt. 

There was no celebration on the 4th of July at this place ; one 
was held at the village of Cambridge, and many of the residents 
of Madison participated in it. 

The annual town meeting of 1848, was held April 4. Wm. 
C. Wells was elected Chairman of Board of Supervisors, C. M. 
Rouse and N. S. Emmons, Supervisors; R. L. Ream, Town 
Clerk; A. Tredway, Alfred Main and S. M. Van Ber- 
GENi Assessors; D. B. Sneeden, Treasurer; B. F. Lar- 
KiN, Collector; A. E. Brooks, D. A. Barnard and D. Lar- 
KiN, Highway Commissioners; B. Holt, J. Nelson and D. H. 
Wright, School Commissioners; A. Bishop, Alfred Main and 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 201 

J. D. Welch, Constables; J. Y. Smith, Sealer, W. N. Seymour 
and Abeam Ogden, Justices of the Peace. The total amount 
of expenditures for the year ending April 2, was $1,941.59, and 
the receipts, 11,371.10. Total indebtedness, 1570.40. 

The firm of Shields & Sneeden, in 1848, built a brick store 
on Main street, facing the public square. This building was 
subsequently occupied by Wm. C. Wells, J. P. Mann, Don- 
aldson & Teed WAY, in 1850, and was by the latter firm occu- 
pied until the fall of 1864. In the spring of 1865, it was sold 
to McKay & Bro's, for 115,500; the lot being 33 feet front. 

D. B. Si^EEDEi^ built a two story residence on Carroll street 
corner of Dayton, which was sold afterwards to Dr. A. J. Wakd, 
and is now owned by F. J. Lamb. 

The corporation officers elected in 1849 were A. L. Colliks, 
President; J. R. Brigham, Secretary; A. Viall, Treasurer, S. 
Mills, G. M. Oakley, J. T. Clark, N. S. Emmons, J. D. Rcjg- 
gles, D. H. Wright, Trustees; A. Ogden, Assessor; Thos. 
Reynolds, Marshal. 

The tax of May 30, shows the assessed value of real estate, 
$62,674; personal property, $25,000; total, $87,674. Tax, 
$434.37. 

The corporation and school tax was $4,964.41. The mer- 
chants who were assessed on the stock of goods were Tibbits 
& Gordon, Seymour & Varney and Lewis k AVright, each as- 
sessed at $4,500. The others were J. C. Fairchild, W. C. 
Wells, T. Reynolds, S. F. Honn, H. G. Bliss, Smith & Tred- 
way, a. Boyles and Dean & Co. 

In the spring of this year, Mr. Farwell commenced making 
permanent improvements at the outlet of Lake Mendota, and a 
dam was built across the outlet, and the water in the lake raised 
about two feet. The Yaharaor Catfish stream which connects the 
lake, being very circuitous, and its channel obstructed by logs and 
brush wood, a straight canal was cut from one lake to the 
other. Lake Monona has since been lowered one foot by re- 
moving obstructions, rendering the water power of much value. 
Lake Mendota forms a reservoir of water so extensive that the 
longest drought ever known in the country would not aff'ect it 
materially. 

14 



202 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

During the summer, a long building was erected at the out- 
let with a saw mill on one end, and two runs of stone on the 
other for grist work. Tibbits & Goedoi^'s brewery was erected 
the same season just below the mill. The Court House was com- 
menced on lot 2, block 68, on Main street, corner of Fairchild 
street, and the walls completed the next summer, and it is 
probably the best county building (except that of Milwaukee), 
in the State. 

On the 30th of January, 1849, the State Historical Society 
was organized at Madison. A meeting of the citizens of Madi- 
son and from other parts of the state met, the evening previous, 
at the American Hotel, at which time it was resolved to call a 
general meeting at the Senate Chamber on the 30th. At this 
meeting, Prof. Eleazar Root was called to the chair, and Gen. 
Wm. R. Smith chosen Secretary. A constitution was formed 
and adopted, and signed by all those present, after which the 
Society proceeded to the election of officers. Nelson" Dewey, 
the Governor of the State, was chosen President; I. A. Lap- 
ham, Corresponding Secretary, and Rev. Charles Lord, Re- 
cording Secretary. One Vice President was also chosen for 
each of the twenty-five counties then organized. The Society 
held annual meetings, at which able historic discourses were de- 
livered by Gen. Wm. R. Smith, Hon. Morgan^ L. Martiist and 
Dr. N. L. Wood, but during the first five years of its existence 
it accomplished next to nothing in the way of historical col- 
lections or a library, so little, that in 1854, the library contained 
only fifty volumes, and all but three of these were state laws, 
journ-als and documents, and were deposited in a small book- 
case three by four feet. The Society was subsequently re-or- 
ganized, and under the energetic and untiring eff'orts of Hon. 
Lymax C. Draper, its corresponding Secretary, became very 
successful. Its subsequent history will be noticed hereafter. 

At a special meeting of the Board of Regents of the State 
University, November 21, 1849, the several chairs of instruc- 
tion were established and defined, action was taken with a view 
to securing a cabinet of Natural Science and a Normal Depart- 
ment instituted, in which instruction was required to be given 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 203 

to teachers' classes during five montlis in the year. At the 
time designated by the board at a previous meeting, Prof. J. 
W. Sterli:n'G opened the Preparatory School in the building 
owned by the Madison Academy, opposite the Presbyterian 
church on Wisconsin avenue. 

John Nelsoit, R. T. Davis and Andrus Viall were elected 
Supervisors at the election in April. 1849; R. L. Ream, Town 
Clerk; D. H. Wright, Superintendent of Schools; Newton" 
Emmons, Assessor; M. Gr. Van Bergen, Treasurer; Wm. Welch, 
A. Ogden and D. H. Wright, Justices of the Peace. Some 
business changes in the town are noticed this year. P. H. Van 
Bergen and Wm. Welch carried on the Madison Hotel. Tib- 
bits & Gordon purchased the stock of D. Baxter, and Sey- 
mour & Varney were engaged in business. 

An anniversary of the organization of the Dane County 
Bible Society was held May 29, and officers elected, viz: John 
Y. Smith President; J. T. Cla.rk, Vice President; Benj. Holt, 
Secretary, and H. G. Bliss, Treasurer and Depositor. 

On the 7th of June, a temperance celebration was held, and 
an address delivered by Rev. A. C. Barry. 

The annual town meeting was held on the 3d of April, 1849, 
and it was voted $400 be raised for the support of schools, and 
11,500 for general purposes. At a special town meeting held on 
May 19, this amount was changed to three mills on the dollar 
valuation. At the meeting in April, John Nelson was elected 
Chairman of Board of Supervisors, Andrus Viall and R. T. 
Davis, Supervisors; R. L. Ream, Clerk; Nelson Emmons, As- 
sessor; M. G. Van Bergen, Treasurer; D. H. Wright, Super- 
intendent of Schools; and A. Ogden, D. H. Wright and Wm. 
Welch, Justices of the Peace; A. Main, A. Rasdall and H. 
Carman, Constables. At the special meeting, G. P. Delaplaine, 
•vras elected Assessor, who failing to qualify, R. L. Ream, was 
chosen to fill the vacancy. The resources of the town for the 
year ending April 2, 1850, were 13,343.41, and the expenditures 
$2,831.65; balance on hand, $511.76. 

John Nelson, in 1849, built the addition to the present resi- 
dence of Hon. Andrew Proudfit, on Washington avenue. 



204 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 



CHAPTER YI. 

Hyer's Reminiscences of Covalle, Pinneo, Ubeldeen, Tom Jackson, 
Judges Frazer and Irvin — Knapp's Notice of Irvin — A Leaf op 
Western History — Universitt Property and Improvements — 
Elections, 1850-3 — Gov. Farwell's Improvements — Schools, 
1850-3 — Newspapers — Madison Mutual Insurance Company — 
Fourth of July — Presbyterian Church Organization and 
History — Capitol House — Public Improvements, 1852-4 — Bap- 
tist Church Erected — R. Catholic Church — Madison Institute 
— Opening op Railroad to Milwaukee — Bruen's Block — Lake 
Side Water Cure — Statistics. 

The articles that follow were written by the late Hon. GrEO. 
Hyer and published in the Madison Union some years since. 
They are republished, as they furnish an interesting series of 
sketches of frontier men who were at Madison in early days : 

" Old Covalle, the fisherman, hunter, trapper, etc., was the 
only white man found on the present site of Madison when it 
was first visited by Col. A. A. Bird, in the spring of 1837. 
Covalle was a Canadian of French extraction, and a fair type 
of the early voyageurs and adventurers who penetrated the wilds 
of the northwest in search of furs, and whose natural affinities 
made them at home among the wild men of the forest. Born 
and bred among the half-civilized border-men, he pressed back 
into the wilderness as the tide of civilization rolled on its 
western course, occupying the ground so reluctantly relin- 
quished by the red men and their ready associates, the 
trappers and traders, whose occupation followed in the train 
of the receding red men; and with the fading forests dis- 
appeared entirely from the regions which but a few years 
before were known to the world only as the hunting grounds 
from which came the rich furs so universally admired in 
civilized life. Covalle was the descendant of a Hudson Bay 
trapper, and followed the movements of his family, and for 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. . 205 

many years thereafter was in the employ of a fur company as 
a trapper, spending years in the wilds north of the St. Mary's 
river, returning to the trading establishments only at stated 
seasons to bring in his furs and obtain supplies. Nothing 
pleased him more than the opportunity of recounting his 
adventures and ' hair breadth escapes ' among the men of the 
wilderness in which he had spent so much of his early life. 
Tired of this wild life, he left the employ of the Hudson Bay 
Company, and commenced operations for himself, trapping 
along the streams emptying into Green Bay, falling back as 
civilization advanced — giving up his cabin to villages, and 
his trapping resorts to lumbermen. Following up the Fox 
river, he kept in advance of the settlements, gathering in the 
little game that lingered along the line, until he was forced to 
abandon the vicinity of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and find 
hunting grounds away from the business routes of white men. 
Taking his Indian woman, and his small family of half-breed 
children, with his ever present companion 'Alex., the fisher 
boy,' he came across the country to the chain of lakes, then in 
the undisturbed possession of the Indians, and built a cabin on 
th"e ground now occupied by Mr. Rodermund as a brewery, at 
the outlet of Lake Mendota. Here he was found by the men 
who came to lay the foundation of the capital of a new state, 
and here he remained until tired of his surroundings, and long- 
ing for the quiet of the wilderness, he, with his little family, 
left to join his old associates who had been transferred to the 
wilds west of the Mississippi. Covalle, though illiterate, was 
a companionable, good natured man, and interesting in the 
long stories he used to tell of the happy life he led in the 
country before it was taken possession of by the white man. 
He tried hard to accustom himself to the usages of civilized 
life, but it was unnatural to him, and the attempt only made 
more apparent the force of early habits. Learning that white 
men married, he brought his Indian woman before a justice of 
the peace that his own marriage might be solemnized in the 
presence of his children, a proceeding which was important to 
them only as it conformed to the customs of white men. He 



206 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

would send to Dr. Lull, the village physician, to treat com- 
plaints that would be thought nothing of in his former 
solitary life, simply because white men employed the Dr., 
and many a joke came back to the settlement, of Covalle's 
efforts to bring his half-breed family under allopathic treat- 
ment, and ludicrous enough were the attempts of the family 
to adapt some article of clothing, the gift of white people, to 
their native costume of buckskin and blanket. The ' first 
families' of Madison will, no doubt, remember the curiosity 
with which Madam Covalle and her children looked in upon 
them through the windows of their houses, refusing to enter 
the dwellings, and with what interest they would gather at the 
doors to witness the proceedings of the meetings on Sunday; 
but these things are now past, and we must dismiss the subject, 
conscious of having said but little that will do more than bring 
back the almost forgotten name of Covalle." 

" None but the ' oldest inhabitant ' of Madison will remem- 
ber Pii^NEO, and little was known of him even by them. He 
was a vagabond naturally, and a long life of dissipation had 
confirmed him in all his vagabond notions and habits. Pinked 
came to Madison among the first, and commenced work as a 
shingle maker, or ' shingle weaver,' as he styled himself. He 
built a hut in the woods, near the outlet of Lake Mendota, and 
when sober, used to retire to it and weave shingles, for which the 
new settlement offered a ready market. He was a queer looking 
object; a tall, round shouldered, large nosed, grey eyed chap, 
never wearing any clothing, in pleasant or foul weather, save 
a pair of coarse breeches and a red shirt. He claimed to be a 
Yankee, but had coasted so long up and down western rivers, 
and had imbibed so much poor whisky, that he had in appear- 
ance and manner nothing to indicate a ' down east ' origin. 
His cabin was a mere shelter — open in front, and furnished 
with no article of comfort or convenience save one or two 
common cooking utensils, and the tools most necessary to his 
business in shingle making. Though orderly and quiet enough 
when sober, he was the opposite to it when drunk; and when 
Pinned took it into his head to be agreeable, no place or com- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 207 

pany was free from intrusion. He was not a very agreeable 
caller — his long, gaunt form, bare head and feet, and disgust- 
ingly dirty appearance were anything but agreeable, still they 
had to be endured, as the possessor of these qualities was none 
other than Mr. Piiq^NEo, who had a laugh and a joke for every 
one, and who was ever ready to do the bidding of those choos- 
ing to command his services. When sober,, which was only 
when every artifice and cunning had failed to provide the 
means of getting drunk, he would retire to his cabin, work 
steadily and quietly until a customer came for shingles, for 
which terms of payment were positive — cash down. When 
once in possession of money, there was no more work in Pii^- 
NEO, who would, by a more direct route reach town in time to 
get glorious long before the purchaser made his appearance 
with the shingles. After he had endured a week's drunk, his 
red face and bare breast shone in the sun with a peculiar bril- 
liancy, and he was a sight as seen in the morning after a night's 
lodging under a tree, or under some outhouse shelter, as he 
shook himself and started for his morning potation at the 
nearest drinking house. He had not worn shoes for years, and 
in his drunken frolics he had acquired the habit of kicking out 
grubs and roots with his bare toes. This he was often induced 
to do for a drink, and many was the grub kicked out of King 
street by Pinkeo, long before NicHOLSOi^ pavement or the of- 
fice of Street Commissioner was thought of. His feet looked, 
in shape and color, like mud turtles, and his toes resembled so 
many little turtle heads half drawn in, so bruised and battered 
were they by hard usage. PiNi^^EO, when drunk, would occa- 
sionally have serious thoughts, and sometimes expressed seri- 
ous doubts as to the propriety of his course of life. His boon 
companion was one Butterfield, of whom we will say more 
by and by. W^hen the first minister visited Madison, and 
called the good people together on Sunday, Pin^i^eo was among 
the first present. He listened attentively to the opening ser- 
vices, and when the minister began to speak of a better life 
than men were leading in the new country, Pi^stxeo very de- 
liberately rose from his seat and electrified the small audience 



208 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

by saying, ' That's so, Mr. Philo, that's so. Butterfield's 
got to be saved; and you just hold on till I bring him in.' 
Upon which he stalked out of the room; but, failing to find 
his chum, neglected himself to return. 

"PiNN"EO had but little to commend him, even to a passing 
notice; still he was a type of many vagabond frontier men, 
who, whatever their origin, accomplished nothing useful in life. 
They generally lived and died wretchedly, as did this Pinneo, 
who lost his life in a miner's cabin, his clothes taking fire 
while he was on one of his drunken frolics." 

" The other day," says Mr. Hyer, '' we were shown through 
the sale-room of Messrs. Bird & Ledwith's establishment, and 
looked upon the rows of beautiful carriages, elegantly lined 
and so richly ornamented, all bespeaking a wide departure 
from the olden but joyous time when we went a-riding along 
the by-ways and over the unbroken grounds that led us where- 
ever we chose to go, before the streets of Madison were walled 
with brick, in old Ubeldeen's one-horse cart — the first pleas- 
ure carriage brought to the capital city. That was long before 
Bird & Ledwith thought of building carriages — long before 
DoRN or Kentzler thought of providing the splendid ' turn- 
outs ' that come from their stables, and roll so elegantly along the 
NiCHOLSOiir pavement — but not long enough to beget forget- 
fulness in the memory of those who, with merry laugh and in. 
youthful glee, used to go jolting along in the one-horse 'gig/ 
as we called the old Frenchman's cart. Wonder if our then 
young boy and girl companions have forgotten the time when 
we used to go a berrying, and when it was only necessary to 
' say the word ' to ensure a cartload of as merry romps as ever 
perplexed the hearts of boys for a berrying expedition, or a 
frolic among the groves that bordered our beautiful lakes. 
That was a funny old cart, and would not answer for now-a- 
days; but we were not so refined and particular then. There 
were no eyes to please but our own, and 'who cared?' Ubel- 
DEEN", the pnvied proprietor of the ' gig,' was a Frenchman, 
and this vehicle came with him from the Canadas. It was of 
the olden style, such as may be seen in the French towns — a 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 209 

two-wheeled, cart-sliaped affair — having a light box, was with- 
out springs, and open behind for the entree and exit of passen- 
gers. It was drawn by a coarse-limbed Normandy horse, 
rigged in a heavy block harness — the whole establishment be- 
ing in proportion and appearance, not beautiful but substantial, 
symmetrical and pleasing only in its unity. When in order 
for a ride, it was the pride of its owner, who would bring the 
' gig ' around, back it up to the door, and announce its readi- 
ness for the young ladies, who, taking seats on robes placed on 
the bottom of the vehicle, the driver sitting on the front 
board, when away it would go, jolting and thumping, with its 
lively, joyous, frolicsome load. It was fun to see the old 
cart rattle and thump over the stones, or across the pole bridge 
that afforded the only crossing to the Catfish, or over logs and 
through brush, as the party jogged on, more in pursuit of fun. 
than berries. 



There were the Miss S s\ the Miss M- 



D and, that was all; girls were not so plenty in Madison then 

as now. Can it be that those romping, bright-eyed girls that 
were then so full of fun, so ready to join in such excursions, and 
so ingenious in expedients, turning inconveniences into pleasant- 
ries, ready to make the best of everything — careless of what 
the world might say or think, are now quieted into mature ma- 
trons, perhaps sober thoughtful grand dames, putting away their 
happy, mirthful, tell-tale faces, that they may assume reserve 
and dignity, not felt, but more becoming their changed fortune 
and social conditions? We caniiot look upon our pleasant 
companions of " early times " without regretting, that with 
years should come so marked a change from the days when the 
wild prairies and forests were not more free, than the light- 
hearted people who enjoyed in common lot the comforts and 
pleasures, the cares and privations incident to a new country ; 
for, though the elegant carriage may roll noiselessly along 
busy streets, and people may pride themselves upon the show 
and parade of a splendid " turn-out," we doubt whether there 
is the same real enjoyment that was found hy the young folks 
who so long ago went a-riding in old Ubeldeen's one-horse 
gig. Heigh-ho, well that ivas almost thirty years ago. 



210 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

"The earliest inhabitant will also remember Tom Jacksoi^. 
He was of Scottish origin, a man of intelligence, but peculiar 
in his manner, amounting to eccentricity. " Jack," as he was 
commonly called, was a ship sawyer by trade, and came to Mad- 
ison to assist in ripping out with a whip-saw much of the lum- 
ber used in the building of the old Capitol. Standing in the 
saw-pit, the old fellow would labor^hard and patiently during 
the long hours of the day, looking forward to the pleasures of 
the mug and pipe at night. He was a man of " infinite mirth," 
good natured but awfully profane in the expression of his views, 
seldom, if ever uttering a sentence without mixing in a fearful 
number of hard words. In person, he was a short, thick-set, 
ruddy looking fellow, grey eyes, and his head, with a very nar- 
row belt of yellow hair about its base, shiningly bald. Jack 
seldom wore any thing in the shape of a head covering, and 
when he did, it was but the sorry remains of a plaid cap that 
he brought from Edenboro' town with him; so accustomed had 
he been to going without one, that on returning from his work, 
he would frequently tuck his cap under his arm, and march off 
bare-headed; but on being told he was not wearing it, he would 
place his hand on his bald head, swear good naturedly at his 
carelssness, and trudge back to the saw-pit for the lost cap, 
never dreaming that he had it under his arm. We remember 
seeing Jack very much confused at a fire. The house where he 
was boarding, a small log house, standing opposite the present 
Meredith House, caught fire in the night, causing no little con- 
fusion among the boarders. Jack was soon on his feet, as 
crazy as a bed-bug — could find nothing, and relieved himself by 
many a hard oath, directed at persons and things about him. 
In his search for his pants, he caught hold of a sailor-jacket be- 
longing to one of his room mates, and imagining the garment 
to be his breeches, thrust his feet through the sleeves, and 
finding them too short for his legs, uttered a fearful judgment 
upon the man who had cut off the legs of his pantaloons ! Many 
an anecdote will be remembered of old Jack, by those who long 
ago listened to his story and song. Tom has been dead many 
years, and the hope is a fervent one that he has gone to a better 
place than he often wished his own soul. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 211 

" During the territorial existence of Wisconsin, it was divid- 
ed into three judicial circuits, presided over by appointees from 
the states. Some of these appointees were broken-down pol- 
iticians, or men who failing to gain prominence in their pro- 
fession, where better known, were willing to be exiled to the new 
territories, where " dispensing the law " was distinguished by no 
very marked display of ability, integrity or legal information, 
and were generally less noted for their legal ability than for 
their knowledge and appreciation of old rye." A tolerably cor- 
rect idea of some of the western judges at that time, may be 
formed from an 6?^f>'a-judicial remark of Judge F., while on the 
bench at Milwaukee. The Judge had imbibed freely of his fav- 
orite rye, and though barely able to retain his seat, he, in his 
drunken humor, insisted on hearing and determining cases, 
whether he understood them or not. Making a decision which 
Col. C, an attorney in the pending case, did not approve of, he 
called the attention of the " Court " to a certain provision of law 
in the statutes of Michigan, then governing the courts of Wis- 
consin. The boozy Judge, in a rather undignified manner, re- 
marked, " To with the courts of Michigan — I am the law 

and the prophets." Such was the law and the prophets in 
those days. 

" But we are getting out of our circuit. The district of which 
Madison was the centre, was presided over by Judge Iryin, a 
worthy gentlemen, but peculiar in many respects. He was a 
fair judge of law, but a better judge of horses and dogs — if he 
could trace law principles back to Blackstone, he could more 
readily, and with greater certainty and satisfaction, trace every 
" thorough-bred " back to some famous stock of Virginia, and 
he knew the degree of every blooded dog he met with. He was 
a confirmed " old bach," made his own bed, sewed on his own 
buttons, and knew every thing in the line of domestic duties, 
from the boiling of an egg, to the whitening of his high-crowned 
straw hat, which in course of time, became quite noted through- 
out his district. He was a good talker, but an indifferent list- 
ener — he disliked being talked to, but nothing suited him better 
than to gossip of himself, his horse and his dog, and indeed it 



212 HISTORY OF MADISON AlSD THE 

was difficult to tell from liis conversation which of the three 
he thought most of. Few of the early settlers have forgot- 
ten " Pedro " the long-legged, slender-bodied sorrel horse, 
rode by the Judge. He was in the Judge's eye, an ex- 
traordinary animal, and possessed all the points distinguish- 
ing the long line of thorough-bred ancestry, through which 
Pedro's lineage could be traced by his master. No suitor 
thought of getting a hearing in court, until he had 
first given the judge a hearing as to the ancestry and peculiar 
qualities of his favorite animal, and so well known had this 
become, that upon '' his Honor's " ascending the bench one 
morning, he found Pedro's bridle suspended over the chair, sig- 
nificantly described. Noah P , a well-known joker of that 

day, used to say that the bench was full only when composed 
of Whiton's boots, Pedro's bridle and the dog York and Judge 
I.; but that was speaking lightly of" the court." The dog York, 
if not of the court, was its constant attendant, and woe to the 
suitor, witness or juryman that showed the dog disrespect. In 
those days, court roqm floors were covered with saw-dust in- 
stead of matting, and occasionally some evil-disposed attendant 
would cover York with saw-dust, in which condition he would 
ascend the platform to his master, who would store up wrath 
until he had an opportunity of gratifying it, in imposing a 
fine or showing his contempt for the wight who dusted York. 
On one occasion, York was the direct cause of an adjournment 
of court. Tom H., of "the Point," and Berry H., of Madison, 
had arranged for a horse race, which being an unusual occur- 
rence in these parts, the bar, the jury and others in attendance 
were extremely desirous of adjourning court to witness the 
sport, but the Judge persistently refused on account of the horses 
not being " thorough-breds," and not having an honorable 
lineage that he knew of; but the fun was not to be lost simply 
to gratify the whim of " the court," and an expedient was re- 
sorted to, to force an adjournment. While Judge I. was at 
dinner, the dog York was enticed into the " National," and 
put in charge of the landlord, with an injunction not to set the 
dog free, until a crowd about the door of the Capitol indicated 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 213 

an adjournment of the court. Upon resuming his seat, the 
Judge cast an anxious look about the room for York, but there 
was no dog present. Sitting unquietly while the clerk called 
up the business of the session, the Judge took advantage of the 
first opportunity that offered, to call the Sheriff to him, of 
whom he enquired if he had seen " York." The dog had not 
been seen since the adjournment. "Very strange, sir, very 
strange," said the Judge. The case proceeded, but the Judge 
grew more uneasy with each passing moment, till it became 
quite evident to those present, that an opportunity would be 
afforded of witnessing the race. Again calling the Sheriff, he 
requested him to go to the outer doors and whistle for the mis- 
sing dog. He did so, and soon word came back that York 
was nowhere to be found. FRAisrK D. was arguing the case then 
before the court, and among the most anxious to witness the 
race. The Judge turned to him, and said, '' Mr. D., if you have 
no objection, and it is agreeable to the other parties, this case 
will go over till to-morrow morning." " Not the least objec- 
tion, your Honor," said Mr. D., and the case went over, under 
an order from the Judge to adjourn the court until 10 o'clock 
A. M. to-morrow. As soon as the crowd left the room, York 
was set loose, and was very soon at the Judge's side, to the mu- 
tual gratification of master a^iVd dog. All went to the race ex- 
cept the Judge. On another occasion there was quite a com- 
motion in the lobby of the court room, which the Judge no- 
ticed, and called the Sheriff to inquire the cause of it. " There's 
a bear on the "Point," said the official. ''Mr. Sheriff, adjourn 
the court," said the Judge, and in a few minutes " his Honor " 
was astride Pedro, making for the Point, followed by York, and 
a noisy crowd of court visitors. Judge I. was extremely neat 
in personal matters, and nothing save disrespect to his dog, or 
inattention to his horse, seemed to displease him more than the 
dirty, filthy, neglectful personal appearance of many of the wit- 
nesses and jurymen then attending court. It was difficult ob- 
taining a full panel in the new county, and to do it at all, the 
trappers and vagabonds still lingering on the verge of civiliza- 
tion were frequently summoned to seats in the jury box. 



214 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Old Pelkie, the fislierman, was once summoned in order to 
make out the number, but on making his appearance to take 
the oath, the Judge challenged him with — '' You dirty French- 
man, go home and wash yourself, and put on some clean clothes^ 
and then come back and take the oath, sir." The court ad- 
journed to give Pelkte time to wash and properly clothe him- 
self. 

" Judge Irvin" was, notwithstanding his peculiarities, a most 
worthy man, whose precept and example, judges of more mod- 
ern date, would do well to follow. His integrity was unques- 
tioned. Pedro and York occupied his thoughts in '' term 
time and vacation," giving no opportunity for reflections that 
might in their course run counter to justice in the disposal of 
suits at law. It may be, that justice would be more equal and 
exact, now-a-days, had every judge his Pedro and York. 

" When Wisconsin became a state. Judge Irvin's occupation 
was gone. He went to Texas, and the last we heard of him, he 
was enjoying his horse, dog and gun on his own plantation. 
What became of Pedro and York, this deponent saith not." 

Judge J. Gr. Knapp, in his "Early Recollections," thus refers 
to Judge Irvin: 

" Judge Irwin, who lost a match with a rich lady in St. 
Louis, because, in his extreme ueatness and parsimony, he 
would persist in mending his own stockings and sewing on his 
own buttons, has been drawn to life by Mr. Hyer, His affec- 
tion for his horse Pedro and his dog York, surpassed his love 
of woman. No picture of the Judge would have been com- 
plete without these, his constant companions. But Wisconsin 
became a State, he lost his office, and the pay stopped. He 
■w ant to Texas (he had never wintered in Wisconsin, unless he 
was sick so as to be unable to get away,) and took up his 
residence on the Rio Guadeloupe. I am told that he took part 
in the late rebellion, and some of the Wisconsin boys, in obe- 
dience to the order of Gen. Washburist, attempted to take him 
as a prisoner of war, but failed, as he got wind of the hunters 
and fled. His old friends would have been glad to have seen 
him here, and heard him again talk of the full blooded, high- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 215 

bred Pedro, and the pure pointer York; or upon visiting liim 
at Camp Randall, to have seen him still mending his stockings, 
and sewing on his buttons, so that with his usual neatness, he 
might have borne up, under the fact of his durance, for having 
fought against a Government which had sustained and even 
fed him so long. 

" When he left, his penuriousness got the better of his loye, 
and though his love for York especially, had at times resulted 
(as it is said, but for the truth of which I do not vouch,) in 
judgment against many a poor fellow who slighted the dog, 
or gave him a sly kick, as happened to the Sage of Muckwan- 
ago; or one who had even hinted a doubt about the correctness 
of his always scenting a game bird, as Berry Haney did when 
York came to a 'firm point' on a snowbird. Though the 
Judge at the time most pointedly rebuked Mr. Haney, with 
the positive assurance that snow birds make most excellent 
pot pies, and were therefore game birds, a fact which York 
well knew. Though that was rather a novel definition of 
game bird, yet by it York was then defended, and remained so 
until the time came for the judgment of the court to reach the 
ofiender, then the dog was fully appeased." 

The following sketch was taken from the PhUadelphia 
American Sentinel, 1846. We have no knowledge of the 
writer, who, from the account, must have been in this section 
in 1835: 

'' A Leaf of Westeri^ History. — About eleven years ago, 
a young gentleman left this city, to take a tour through the 
Western country. His object at first was to go no further 
than Fort Wayne in the state of Indiana. He journeyed that 
far in company with the late Commissioner of the Patent 
Office, Mr. Ellsworth, who had been deputed by the govern- 
ment of the United States to make a treaty with an Indian 
tribe, then in the vicinity of the Fort. Mr. Ellsworth after 
remaining there a short time returned to Washington, while 
the young man, not then more than eighteen years old, pro- 
ceeded to the state of Missouri, where he met his cousin, about 
his own age, residing at, or near Hannibal. These young men 



216 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

crossed the Mississippi^ reaching Rock river, and ascending to 
the first of the celebrated Four Lakes in Wisconsin, where 
they engaged the only inhabitant residing there, to carry them 
in a canoe up the river of the Four Lakes, to the north side of 
the Fourth Lake, at which place there resided a solitary hidian. 
In their course up the river, to the Fourth Lake, they saw but 
one white man, and no Indian, except the one already referred 
to. The land in the neighborhood had then just come into the 
possession of the government, and the Indians had of course 
left that beautiful region of country. 

" The travelers slept on the margin of Lake Koshkonong, 
near an Indian burial place on their journey. 

" They stopped also at the point between the Third and 
Fourth lakes, where the beautiful town of Madison, the seat 
of government of the territory of Wisconsin now stands. 

" At that time, the only town in the western part of Wis- 
consin, was Mineral Point. Janesville, now one of the finest 
towns in the interior of the territory, had not then been 
thought of, nor had Beloit, a large and flourishing town in 
Rock county. No legislature had then met in Wisconsin, for 
the territory had just been separated from Michigan. No white 
man lived near the site of Madison, to think of building a 
town then. 

""Two or three years after that period, it was fixed upon as 
the seat of government; and a fine spacious building erected 
for the reception of the legislature. 

" The two young gentlemen, who traversed this section of 
country together, and who looked over it, while the imprint of 
the Indian was still upon the shores of the lakes, returned East, 
the one to reside in the city of Baltimore — from whom most 
of the particulars of this article have been obtained, while the 
other delighted with this captivating section of the West, as 
soon as he reached the maturit}^ of manhood, returned and set- 
tled in Madison, and is now the presiding ofiicer under the char- 
ter of incorporation, granted to the town of Madison at the last 
session of the Wisconsin Legislature.* 

*Thos. W. Sutherland. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 217 

'' We have published the foregoing remarks mainly with the 
yiew of introducing the extract below, showing how rapidly 
the western towns, as it were, hurst into existence, under the 
tide of emigration flowing in that direction. The Milwaukee 
Courier giYes the following interesting account of the seat of 
government of Wisconsin, but a few years ago the hunting 
ground of the Indian: 

"Madison, the Capitol of Wisconsin, is exhibiting signs of 
business and prosperity really surprising. During a stay of two 
days at the Madison Hotel, last week, we found an average of 
one hundred persons at the table at every meal. It is the most 
lovely location imaginable, and nothing can prevent its becom- 
ing at an early day, a city in population and business, as well as 
in name. Some idea may be formed of the progressive strides 
of the town and adjacent country, from the fact that in 1842, 
the whole county contained but about seven hundred inhabi- 
tants, which it is expected the census of the present month 
will make ten thousand." 

'' We take leave to add, that besides having three well con- 
conducted newspapers, the town has many valuable stores. 
The library of the Territory is there and is excellent — and the 
Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics all have 
regular worship in that town. Reposing, as it does between 
two as lovely lakes as are to be seen anywhere, Madison is one 
of the most enchanting spots in the Republic. As the poet 
has it : 

" This gem-like town o'erlooks the crystal lakes, 
And smiles in beauty as the morn awakes." 

A plan for the University buildings, drafted by J. F. Hoyke, 
was submitted to the Board of Regents, and was accepted. 
A central edifice and four dormitories were embraced within 
the scope of this plan. The central building was to be 150 by 
60 feet on the ground, to contain thirteen public rooms, and 
two dwellings for officers. Of the dormitories, two were to be 
on each side of an avenue two hundred and forty feet broad, 
leading from the front of the main structure in the direction 
15 



218 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

of the Capitol. Each dormitory was to be 110 by 40 feet on 
the ground, four stories high, and to contain thirty-two studies., 
each fourteen by fifteen feet, and each study to have attached 
two bedrooms and a wood-room. It was estimated that these 
buiklings, together with sundry improvements to the grounds 
woukl cost about 190,000. The actual cost of the two dormi- 
tories and the University Hall is shown by the records to have 
been $101,631.57. The plan was so far improved that the 
erection of one dormitory in accordance with it was authorized, 
and proposals were advertised for its construction, to be com- 
pleted by January 1, 1851. 

Thirteen bids were received by the committee, the most fa- 
vorable of which was found to be that presented by Yarney 
& Parker, who proposed to complete the building of stone, 
according to the specifications, at the aggregate cost of 
117,800. 

JoHivT H. Lathrop, LL.D., was inaugurated into the office of 
Chancellor, January 16, 1850. 

The lower story of the Madison Academy was occupied by 
the preparatory department of the University from February 
to August, 1850, and here the first collegiate class completed 
their preparation. In the fall of that year, the first dormitory 
building was completed, and the third session of the prepara- 
tory school was held here. The first class then entered upon 
the college curriculum, and Chancellor Lathrop began the dis- 
charge of his duties as instructor. 

In July of the same year, the Board of Regents directed 
that a portion of the Van^derpoel purchase, not needed for a 
site, should be laid out in village lots, and put in the market. 
A sufficient amount was realized to replace the original cost of 
the tract, and yield a profit of $7,682.70 besides. Hon. HeIn-ry 
Dodge, United States Senator from Wisconsin, made a valua- 
ble donation to the library, and Chancellor Lathrop a condi- 
tional loan of his private library. 

The population of the village, as taken in 1850, shows 1,525, 
and the town of Madison, 316; total, 1,871; a gain of 705 since 
1847. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 219 

The Wisconsin Express, of February 26, 1850, in speaking 
of the prosperity of the village and its future prospects, says: 
"At no former period of time has our beautiful town presented 
so strong evidences of prosperity as at present." 

The sale of school and university lands in Dane county took 
place 'on the 11th of November; 5,320 acres were sold, and 
brought 129,280.03. These lands comprised many valuable 
pieces of property, and were mainly purchased by those pro- 
posing to make them their homes, and brought good prices. 

The first number of . the Wisconsin Statesman appeared Au- 
gust 1, 1850. W. W. Wymak & Sons (W. H. and A. U. Wy- 
MAN") publishers. It was an eight column weekly, well printed. 
Whig in politics. It belonged to what was known as the Sil- 
ver Gray branch of that party. For a time Wm. Welch was^ 
associated in the editorial management. 

De Norsken Ven, a newspaper in the Norwegian language, 
was published about the same time, Ole Torgerson publisher, 
and was well supported. 

The village corporation officers elected this year, were, W. 
N. Seymour, President; S. Mills, D. Holt, Jr., S. F. Honn, 

D. H. Wright, Jehu H. Lewis, D. T. Dixon, Trustees; Geo. 
M.Oakley, Treasurer; J. R. Brigham, Clerk; A. Viall and 

E. M. Williamson, Assessors; W. C. Wells, Marshal. 

The corporation assessment of 1850, was: real property, 
$137,315; personal, $19,850; total, $157,165. Amount of tax 
levied, $785.33. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was completed this year, on 
the corner of Pinckney and Mifflin streets. 

" To those who have hitherto been skeptical in regard to the 
expediency of improving the water power of Lake Mendota,'* 
says the Express, " we would recommend a visit to that improve- 
ment, and all doubts in reference to the feasibility of the work 
will be removed. We visited the works of Farwell & Co., 
and were surprised to find so much work had been accom- 
plished. We found, in successful operation, a saw mill turning 
out lumber at a rapid rate; a grist mill is also about ready to 
commence operations, of sufficient dimensions to supply the 



220 HISTORY OF MADISON AUD THE 

wants of the surrounding country until another mill can be 
constructed; a turning lathe is also making bedposts, etc. A 
brewery has also been put in operation. The power is ample 
to propel eight run of stone, besides such other machinery as 
may be desired." 

L. J. Farwell commenced building his large grist and flour 
mill. May 1, 1850. It was finished the following autumn, and 
contained eight run of stone. He also opened Williamson 
street and the Fort Winnebago and Milwaukee road across the 
Yahara or Catfish this season. The valuable improvements 
made by this enterprising citizen did much to call attention to 
the desirability of Madison as a place of business and of resi- 
dence. Mr. Farwell's large pecuniary means at that time 
were devoted to the improvement of his real property at this 
place. He also advertised largely, and spent large sums in dis- 
seminating information of this section, which, previous to his 
coming, was almost an unknown country. 

A meeting of the legal voters of School District No. 1, town 
of Madison, was held on the 20th of March, 1850. D. H. 
Wright, then Town Superintendent of Schools, called the 
meeting to order, and the following district officers were 
elected: Wm. C. Wells, Director; Bekjamiis' Holt, Treasurer; 
and SiMEOK Mills, Clerk. The census taken April 1, of the 
same year, shows the number of children residing in the dis- 
trict over four and under twenty years, to be 317; whole num- 
ber attending school, 153. May 11, of this year, James L. 
Ends was engaged to teach the District School three months, 
at 130 a month, at the expiration of which term he was reen- 
gaged, and continued for two years. It seems that eff'orts were 
here made by Mr. Ei^os to inaugurate the Graded School S3^s- 
tem. The school was divided into two departments, Mrs. 
Church having charge of the primary. 

The Wisco7ism Argiis^ of November 19, 1850, says: "As 
nearly as we have been able to estimate, over 100 (W. N. Sey- 
mour says 117) new buildings have been erected this season, 
and numbers contemplated could not be commenced for want 
of material." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 221 

Among tlie prominent merchants at that time were, Tibbits, 
Gordon & Keyes, N. W. Dean, J. C. Fairchild, W. C. Wells, 
Dean & Ruggles, W. N. Seymour, Donaldson & Tredwat, 
J. H. Lewis, Friend & Brother, Ward & Honn, N. M. Dod- 
soN, J. B. Rowley, D. Holt, Jr., C. S. Newton, Cannon & 
Sadd, and D. Clark. 

The Wisconsin Statesman of September 19, 1850, says of 
the mill: ^' Far well's mills are now nearly completed; the 
building is fifty feet square on the ground, five stories high, 
and presents to the eye the appearance of beauty, durability 
and strength. The first tree was cut from the stump about 
the middle of May last, and by October 15th the building is 
expected to be complete. The mill is estimated to flour 500,000 
bushels of wheat per year. Geo. Veomak was the master 
framer of the building, J. L. Roundy architect, W. A. Wheeler 
has charge of the mill-wright department.'" 

September 1st, S. Mills, Esq., Clerk of School District No. 
1, comprising the village, made a report, showing that the 
whole number of persons of school age was 503; that a school 
had been taught by James L. Enos for three months, since 
the formation of the district, as made in March, at '$30 per 
month. 

The corporation officers elected in the spring of 1851 were: 
Simeon Mills, President; J. R. Brigham, Clerk; B. Holt, H. 
A. Tenney, W. Welch, D. H. Wright, L. J. Farwell and 
A. A. Bird, Trustees; Jas. Richardson, Assessor; Darwin 
Clark, Treasurer; A. Bishop, Marshal. The annual receipts 
into the treasury of the village for 1851, were $994.77, and dis- 
bursements $908.52. The assessed valuation of real property^ 
$122,780; personal property, $26,050; total $148,830. 

The most notable improvements during the year 1851 were 
the erection of the two fine stone dwellings of Hon. Levi B. 
Vilas and Jere. T. Marston, on opposite corners of Henry 
and Langdon streets. That of Judge Yilas was at that time 
regarded as the most elegant private residence in the state. 
It is 48 feet front on Henry street, extending 100 feet on Lang- 
don street, and cost about $15,000. 



222 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

In the spring of 1851, Messrs. Atwood & Buck, then pub- 
lishers of the Madison Express^ commenced the erection of a 
double house, or two houses under the same roof, on Wis- 
consin Avenue, block 85. A solid center wall divides these 
houses, and there are no connecting doors leading from one to 
the other. The building is of red brick, manufactured in the 
city by Peter H. Vak Bergen", Esq. The main part is two 
stories high, with a roomy attic. There is a wing on each 
side of the main building, one story with high attic rooms. 
Each house contains, on the first floor, a hall, parlor, sitting 
room, dining room and kitchen, with various pantries, closets, 
etc. The second floor contains five good sleeping rooms, 
with closets for each, and on the third floor there are three 
sleeping rooms with closets for each. The brick mason work 
was done by the day, under direction of Mr. A. Yiall, still a 
resident of Madison. The carpenter work was done under 
contract by Messrs. John^ D. Welch and John^ 0. Hogg. Mr. 
Welch died some two years ago, and about a dozen years ago, 
Mr. Hogg removed to Missouri. The plastering was done 
under the direction of Mr. Gteo. M. Oakley, now a resident of 
Chicago; and the painting by Messrs. Michael and Samuel 
Francomb, both deceased. The owners removed into their 
respective houses in December, 1851. Mr. Royal Buck occu- 
pied his house less than one year, when, on the death of Mrs. 
Buck, he removed to Fond du Lac. He now resides in 
Nebraska. In 1853, David Atwood purchased Mr. Buck's 
house, and has owned them both since that time, and has 
resided in the one he moved into in 1851. The building was 
substantially constructed, and is now (1874) a very creditable 
block, affording good room for two families. 

The annual election of town officers this spring (April 1), 
1851, resulted in the election of L. J. Faewell, J. P. Mann 
and R. T. Davis, Supervisors; J. T. Wilson, Assessor; J. J. 
Staeks, Clerk; N. S. Emmons, Treasurer; D. Noble Johnson, 
Superintendent of Schools; W. N. Seymoue and G. C. Albee, 
Justices of the Peace. The receipts of the town to March 26th 
were $3,268.06, and expenditures $2,579.47. 



FOUR LAKE COVNTET OF WISCONSm. 223 

The Madison Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated 
by act of the legislature, approved March IT, 1851. The fol- 
lowing were the first Board of Directors: 1j. J. Faewell, 
Simeon Mills, Johx Catltn, N. B. Eddy, A. J. Ward, W. N. 
Seymour, N. W. Dean, E. B. Dean, Jr., Wm. Welch, Wm. C. 
Wells, David Atwood, F. G. Tibbits and B. F. Hopkins. 
Officers: Simeon Mills, President; N. B. Eddy, Vice President; 
B. F. Hopkins,* Secretary; L. J. Farwell, Treasurer. 

•*Hon. Benjamin F. Hopkins was born at Hebron, Washington county, 
New York, April 22, 1S29. His earlj life was spent upon a farm, and he was 
for a time clerk in a country store. While yet a youth, the telegraph was 
brought into use, and after a short experience he became an accomplished 
operator. In October, 1849, he came to Wisconsin and stopped first at 
Fond du Lac for a short time, and in November, he removed to Madison 
and had charge of the telegraph office. In 1851, he procured the passage 
of a law incorporating the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, which 
company was duly organized in April and Mr. Hopkins was elected Sec- 
retary. He served in this capacity five years and was a director to the day of 
his decease. In 1855, mainly through his influence, the Madison Gas Light 
and Coke Company was incorporated, and organized in the spring of 
1856, with Mr. Hopkins as Secretary. This company was- subsequently 
leased to him for five years and became a success, and he became the 
owner of a majority of the stock which proved very valuable. He took 
an active and prominent part in the establishment of the Soldiers' Orphans' 
Home, and was always a leading member of the Board of Trustees. On 
Governor Bashford's taking the executive chair, he appointed Mr. Hop- 
kins his Private Secretary, which position he held in 1856 and 1857. In 
the fall of 1861, he was elected to the State Senate and served two years, 
and in 1865 he was elected Member of the Assembly. He was an unsuc- 
cessful candidate of the convention that met to nominate a congressman 
in 1862 and 1864. In the convention of 1866, he received a nomination on 
the 136th ballot and was duly elected. In 1868, he was renominated. 

Mr. Hopkins had just completed his first term in congress when disease 
took a severe hold upon him. He sufficiently recovered to take a trip 
over the Pacific Road to San Francisco, but in the fall of 1869, he was 
again taken sick and lingered until the morning of the first day of Jan- 
uary, 1870, w^hen he died, in the 41st year of his age. 

Mr. Hopkins was married first to Miss Ethelinda Lewis, Ma\' 25, 1S53, 
who died about two years thereafter. He married second, Mrs. Mary E. 
Willicutt, September 14, 1857, "^^h*^ survives him, and has since been mar- 
ried to Hon Arthur McArthur, Judge of the United States District Cour 
at Washington, District of Columbia. 



224 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The usual celebration on the 4th of July this year (1851> 
was held, the following persons being the officers: J. C. Fair- 
child, President; A. Botkin, Vice President; Hon. Jas. Arm- 
strong, Orator; A. A. Bird, Marshal; Beriah Brown, Reader;, 
and Rev. W. Lattin, Chaplain. The celebration was brought 
to a conclusion by a sad accident which occurred to Mr. 
DeLaistcy Thayer, a journeyman printer in this place. While 
firing the cannon, the gun made a premature discharge, tear- 
ing off all his clothes, blowing both of his arms literally to 
pieces, ruining one eye, tearing and mutilating his face and 
head in the most shocking manner, and otherwise injuring his 
body, although not seriously. He was taken to the residence 
of his father-in-law, Mr. Daniel Mallo, when his arms were 
amputated near the shoulder by Dr. A. J. Ward, and his 
wounds dressed. 

Nicholas Smith, one of the early settlers and merchants of 
the village, died July 15, aged 38 years. 

The Madison Sacred Music Society was organized Sept. 11, 
1851, by the election of the following officers: John Y. Smith, 
President; David Holt, Jr., Vice President; Daniel S. Durrie, 
Secretary and Treasurer; Caleb Jewett and A. S, Wood, 
Vocal Conductors; WilletS. Main, Eri S. Oakley and Leon- 
ard S. Hill, Board of Managers. This Society gave a concert 
at the Assembly Hall January 28, 1852, and one at the Court 
House May 26, 1852. The exercises were referred to in the vil- 
lage papers as highly commendable. The Society, however, had 
but a brief existence. 

The following account of the organization of the Presbyte- 
rian church, is taken from the records of that church. At a 
meeting of the Presbytery of Dane, held October 3, 1851, du- 
ring the sessions of the Synod of Wisconsin at its first meet- 
ing in Fort Winnebago, a petition from several ehurch mem- 
bers resident in and near Madison, Wis., and formerly con- 
nected with the Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, and Associate 
Reformed churches, asking to be organized into a Presbyterian 
church, and received into the Presbytery, was presented by Rev.. 
H. B. Gardiner to the Presbytery of Dane, whereupon the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 225 

Presbytery appointed a committee consisting of tlie Rev. Messrs. 
D. C. Lyoj^ and Thomas Fraser, to visit Madison, and, if in 
their judgment the way should be deemed clear, to effect the 
organization of a church in connection with the Presbytery, 
with the privilege of inviting clerical members from the 
other Presbyteries belonging to the Synod to take part in 
the discharge of the duties of their commission. 

The committee met at Madison, October 4, 1851, Saturday 
evening, and after divine service, organized a church consisting 
of the following members: 

John" Y. Smith, from the Reformed Dutch church, formerly 
existing in Madison, of which he was an Elder, and the only 
remaining member resident here, DakielS. Durrie and Anjta 
Holt Durrie, his wife, b}" letter from the Third Reformed 
Dutch Church of Albany, N. Y., Mary E. and Clara Gardi- 
ner, by letter from the South Presbyterian church. Galena, 111., 
and Jan^e McFarland, by letter from the Presbyterian church 
of Mansfield, Ohio. An election of officers was held, and Rev. 
JoHK W. Sterlin"G, Professor in the State University, and John" 
Y. Smith were elected Ruling Elders, and D. S. Durrie, 
Deacon. On the succeeding day, Sundaj^, October 5, after pub- 
licworship at Lewis Hall, these persons were ordained and in- 
stalled. Rev. H. B. Gardiner* was engaged as stated supply 
of the pulpit. 

On the same day, in the intermission between the hours of 
public worship, the session received four additional members: 
James McBride, and Mrs. Mary Ann McBeide, his wife, from 
the associated Reformed church of Milroy, Indiana, Mrs. Eliz- 
abeth Jane Fox, from the Presbyterian church of Greenfield, 
Wis., and William Fox, her son. 

The church thus organized, occupied for a while, rooms in 
the second story of Lewis' Hall, opposite the site of the pres- 
ent church building, subsequently the building owned by C* 
Abbott, corner of Mifflin and Carrol streets, and used as a gro- 
cery, or more recently by B. D. Miner as a bakery. 

* Rev. Mr. Gardiner died at Brooklyn, N. Y., July 23, 1874. 



226 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Rev. Mr. Gardiner made a successful effort to obtain funds 
for the erection of a church edifice the year after his location 
,here, and a framed building was erected, forty by sixty feet on 
the corner of Wisconsin avenue and Johnson street, with a 
spire 110 feet above the ground. A bell of the weight of 1,000 
pounds was afterwards procured. An election for Trustees 
was held March 18, 1852, and Rev. H. B. Gardiner was elected 
President, and J. Y. Smith, D. S. Durrie and J. T. Clark, were 
elected Trustees. 

The new church building was completed and dedicated, De- 
i^ember 25, 1853. 

Rev. Mr. Gardiner resigned October 21, 1855, and Septem- 
ber 21, 1856, an unanimous call was extended to Rev. Wm. L. 
•Green, of Greenville, Kentucky, to become pastor, which was 
accepted, and he preached until April 2, 1865, when, owing to 
ill-health, he resigned. On the 17th of September, 1865, the 
church invited Rev. Edward G. Read, of Princeton, N. J., to 
become their pastor, which was accepted, and he was ordained 
and installed October 11, 1865, with impressive services, in 
which Rev. J. M. Buchanan, D. D., of Milwaukee, and Rev. 
Messrs. Fox and Day participated. Mr. Read resigned 1869, 
and Rev. Richard V. Dodge, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was 
elected pastor, which position he retained until March, 1871, 
when he accepted a call to a church in San Francisco, Cal. In 
the spring of 1873, Rev. L. Y. Hays, of Ottawa, 111. was elected, 
and is the pastor at this date, 1874. 

The population of Madison this year (1851), was 2,306. 

We are indebted to Rev. J. G. Miller, of this city for the 
following history of the Church of the Evangelical Association 
of Madison: 

" The first Cerman preaching in Madison, while Wisconsin 
wa^ a Territory, was in the year 1811, by the Rev. J. G. 
Miller, from Ohio, who was appointed by the Evangelical 
Association of that state, and sent by their annual conference 
in 1811, as missionary to Galena Mission — which field of labor 
included a part of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. 

'' His journey commenced from Galena north, in company with 



FOUB LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 227 

Rev. John Seibert (the first and then only Bishop of the Evan- 
gelical Association), to Platteville, Potosi, Beetown, Mineral 
Point and Prairie du Sac. They were the first German minis- 
ters who crossed the Wisconsin river. The Bishop leaving him 
at this point, he continued on to Portage City, Fond du Lac, 
Calumet, Green Bay, Two Rivers, Milwaukee, Prairieville and 
Jefferson to Madison, where he found a few German families 
from Pennsylvania, by the names of Mallo and Stoner, also a 
few other Europeans, to whom he preached from time to time 
in private houses. 

" In 1845, the Illinois Conference assigned him the entire Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin, named Winnebago Mission. His field of 
labor extended over four or five hundred miles, in which he 
found many Germans who had not heard the Gospel preached 
from two to six years. He traveled from four to five thousand 
miles annually ; his salary for the first year amounted to 840.98, 
and the second year to $47.52. 

" In 1846 the conference saw fit to change the name of Win- 
nebago Mission to Madison Mission, and owing to the then pre- 
vailing custom of the Evangelical Association of changing min- 
isters every one or two years, they appointed the Rev. Benj. 
Eply, from Illinois, as missionary, who, in consequence of sick- 
ness and other causes, was obliged in part to neglect Madison. 

" The following year, Madison was taken in charge by Rev. 
M. Howard, from Jefferson. 

"About this time, the German population of Madison com- 
menced increasing quite rapidly, and in 1848 and '49, thej^ were 
often visited by Rev. J. G. Miller, who preached to them, but 
during his absence of five years to Pennsylvania and Maryland, 
the conference appointed Rev. C. A. Schj^ake, who in 1853, 
was ordered to organize the society and to commence the build- 
ing of a church, which was erected the following year, in charge 
of Rev. W. Strasberger, and finished in 1856 by Rev. J. G. 
Miller, the membership being then about fifty. 

'' The church being somewhat out of the Avay, the conference 
ordered the erection of the second church — the present white 
brick building at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, includ- 



228 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

ing lot, located corner of Pinckney and Mifflin streets, which 
was completed in 1865, under the directions of Rev. W. F. 

SCHJ^EIDER. 

" The present membership, numbering about one hundred 
and fifty, is in charge of Rev. C. F. Finger and is in a prosper- 
ous condition. The following are the names of the ministers 
of the Association: Rev. J. Esslinger, Rev. A. Hulster, P. 
Held, G. Fritsche, J. Hallacher, W. F. Kaufman, F. Zim- 
merman, Von Essen, F. Hudster." 

The corporation election of 1852 was held March 1, and the 
following officers elected: Chauncey Abbott, President; H* 
A. Tenney, J. H. Lewis, F. G. Tibbits, E. L. Varney, P. H. 
Van Bergen and Michael Friend, Trustees; R. L. Ream, 
Clerk; J. J. Starks, Treasurer; A. Bishop, Assessor; J. D. 
Welch, Marshal. The town election was held April 7, the same 
year, when the following persons were elected: Philo Dun- 
ning, X. Jordan and J. R. Larkin, Supervisors; James Don- 
nellon. Town Clerk; C. Zwicky, Treasurer; M. Joyce and 
R. L. Ream, Assessors; D.Clark, Superintendent of Schools, 
and William Welch and A. Ogden, Justices of the Peace. 

On the 25th of May proposals were advertised to be received 
for the erection of the new hotel for the Madison Hotel Com- 
pany, to be completed by December 1, signed by L. J. Farwell, 
L. B. Vilas and E. B. Dean, Jr., Executive Committee. The 
building was to have sixty-six feet front on Main street, and 
eighty-six feet on Wisconsin avenue, five stories high, built of 
brick with stone fronts, to contain ninety-six rooms. The work 
was commenced and the walls of the foundation and the first 
story of the Capital House were laid this season. The hotel 
Company as originally composed, proved a failure; they were un- 
fortunate in letting their contract, and the work was suspend- 
ed, when Messrs. Vilas, Fairchild, and Farwell bought the 
property in the spring of 1853, and completed the Hotel the 
same season. The cost of the same was about 125,000. 

The celebration of July 4, was carried on this year without 
any serious 'accident. The officers of the day were: Gov. L. J. 
Farwell, President; E. Brigham, A. Botkin, J. C. Fairchild, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 229 

N. B. Eddy, John Gray, Vice Presidents; Beriah Browk 
and B. F. Hopkins, Secretaries; D. Atwood, Marshal, with 
W.'^N. Seymour and N. W. Dean, aids; John H. Lathrop, 
LL. D.^ Chancellor of the University, as Orator; and Rev. Chas. 
Lord, Chaplain. 

Williams and Noland, who had leased the grounds of N. 
W. & E. B. Dean, on Wisconsin Avenue, near the present res- 
idence of Prof. S. H. Carpenter, had an impromtu celebration, 
at which Leopold Lathkop delivered an address. Fireworks 
in the evening. 

The year 1852, was marked by a number of important im- 
provements, owing to the near advent of the railroad to this 
place and the advantages to be gained thereby. It gave an in- 
centive to all branches of business enterprise, and lots were in 
demand and new buildings almost if not equal to the ability of 
mechanics to put up. Among the important improvements 
may be noticed the stone building erected by Makshal & 
Ilsley on Pinckney street occupied by the State Bank. This 
was the first bank organized under the general banking law of 
the state, and issued the first bank bill put in circulation ; the 
large stone block three stories high, built by JoHi^ Catlin and 
SiMEOK Mills, the same being forty-four feet front on King 
street ; the upper part being occupied as a theatre by Mr. Lak- 
geishe; G. C. Albee's brick store on Pinckney street; and 
about eighty private residences erected. 

Gov. Farwell commenced the work of reclaiming the low 
wet land northwest of the Capitol, ditched and planted Wash- 
ington avenue, and planted some six thousand forest trees, 
mostly cotton-wood and soft maple from the bottom lands of 
the Wisconsin river, along the streets. The low, moist nature 
of the ground is well adapted to these trees, and they have had 
a fine growth. The lands referred to, which were previous to 
this time, wet and marshy, have become so much improved and 
benefited that they are at this time quite valuable. Some sixty 
hands were employed in this improvement. 

The Wisconsin Palladium, of July 27, 1852, gives a list of 
manufacturing establishments then in operation : by water — 



230 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Fakwell & Co.'s large grist mill, one saw mill and turning 
lathe, machine for wool carding under charge of Dawson & 
Co., a brewery by J. Keyes; and by steam — a sawmill by 
Ilsley & Co.; planing mill by H. C. Parker; oil mill, Dean", 
RuGGLES & Co. ; machine shop and foundry, by Barnes & Co.; 
bedstead and chairs. Conger, Green & Co.; printing press, 
Brown, Carpenter & Co.; Noland & Co., hominy manufac- 
turers. The following were some of the prominent merchants 
in the year 1852: Tibbits & Gordon, Wells & Hoyt, Donald- 
son & Tredway, Gray & Starks, N. W. Dean, Jas. R. Mears, 
Lewis & Holden, Thos. Rey?solds, Wright & Tenney, Platt 
& Chapman, Weed & Eberhard, D. Holt, J. T. Marston. 

On the 15th of June, 1852, the two Democratic papers. The 
Argus and The Democrat^ were merged in one, and Beriah 
Bkown and Steph. D. Carpenter became joint editors and 
proprietors of the consolidated paper, which retained the name 
of both the old ones. The year following, Mr. Carpenter 
retired and Elias A. Calkins was associated with Mr. Brown 
until 1855, when the latter sold his interest to James K. 
Proudfit. Calkins & Proudfit were partners in the publi- 
cation until May, 1857, when Proudfit was succeeded by Geo. 
Webb, and was continued until the summer of 1859, with some 
other changes, when it was discontinued, and the printing ma- 
terials were purchased by the Patriot and State Journal offices. 

The Wisconsin State Journal was established by David At- 
wooD, in September, 1852, and the first number of the daily 
bears date September 30, and was a five column paper. The 
furniture was entirely new, and the fixtures purchased ex- 
pressly for the office. It was first issued as a Whig paper, but, 
on the reorganization of parties, became an advocate of the 
principles and measures of the Republican party. Horace 
Rublee was connected as associate editor in 1853, and in 1854 
was interested as a partner. George Gary came May 1, 1855, 
but retired in 1856. Harrison Reed was interested in its pub- 
lication, 1859, retiring in 1861, since which last date the paper 
has been successfully published by Atwood & Rublee, and At- 
WOOD & Culver, the latter gentleman purchasing the interest 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 231 

of Mr. RuBLEE on liis receiving the appointment of Minister 
Resident at Switzerland. 

The Wisconsin Patriot was issued on the 17th of June, 1854, 
by J. T. Marston and H. A. Tenney, editors and proprietors^ 
It was a Democratic paper and edited with force and ability. 
It was published, with numerous changes in its management, 
until November 14, 1864, when its publication was suspended^ 
George Hyer was connected with Mr. Carpenter for a while*, 
and also Prof. S. H. Carpenter, now of the State University^ 

The assessed valuation of the property of the village was, 
(1852), real estate, 1162,785: personal, 139,780; total, $202,565. 
The amount of tax, $1,012.82. The number of votes polled at 
the spring election was 300. 

The first public meeting of the Madison Young Men's Asso- 
ciation was held at the Court House on the 9th of February, 
1853, with an address by J. N. Jewett, and a discussion on the 
annexation of Cuba, in which H. J. Northrop, C. T. Wake- 
ley, A. D. Gray, B. F. Hopkins, J. H. Lewis and J. N. Jew- 
ett were disputants. On the 11th of February, the Statesman 
announces that arrangements are being made to have a course 
of free lectures during the year; Dr. A. P. Ladd, H. S. Orton^ 
J. H. Lathrop, O. M. Conover, Rev. W. Thompson, S. H, 
Carpenter, A. F. Carman, J. R. Baltzell and others have 
proposed to assist in carrying out the plan. The first lecture 
was delivered February 15, 1853, by Harlow^ S, Orton, Esq.y 
on "Human Equality." 

The annual town meeting was held April 5, and the follow- 
ing persons were elected: J. T. Marston, W. D. Bird and D^ 
A. Barnard, Supervisors; James Donnellon, Clerk; C. M^ 
Rouse, Assessor; J. W. Hunt, School Superintendent; and J, 
R. Larkin and "W. N. Seymour, Justices of the Peace. The 
annual election for corporation officers resulted as follows: H^ 

A. Tenney, President; F. G. Tibbits, L.Cannon, D. Atwood, 

B. F. O'Bryan, C. Zwicky and A. Wilcox, Trustees; Wm^ 
Welch, Clerk; J. J. Starks, Treasurer ; A. Manning, Marshal, 

On the 23d of March, 1853, the Milwaukee and Mississippi 
Railroad Company contracted with Chamberlain Cook to com- 



232 HIS Ton Y OF MADISON AND THE 

plete the road to Stoughton by September 1, 1853, and to Madi- 
son, January 1, 1854. 

On the 6th day of February, a meeting of the members of the 
Baptist church was held at the Court House, to organize said 
church under the laws of the state, at which meeting Deacon 
Daniel Gokum was chairman. Rev. IVI. D. Miller, Daniel 
GoEUM, John W. Hunt, Elisha W. Keyes and Willett S. 
Main, were elected Trustees, an d the meeting empowered the 
Trustees to purchase a lot for a church, and to raise means by 
subscription for the erection of a church building. At a sub- 
sequent meeting of the Trustees, held February 14, Rev. M. D, 
Miller was appointed agent of the Society to purchase the lot, 
circulate subscriptions and to superintend the erection. On the 
25th of August, the sum of 13,300 was subscribed, the lot pur- 
chased (lot 5 in block 74), and considerable progress made in 
the building. The work was vigorously prosecuted under the di- 
rection of Rev. M. D. Miller, who had been elected pastor of the 
church, and the building was ready for occupancy in Septem- 
ber, 1854, and was dedicated on the 3d of that month, Rev. J. A. 
Smith, of Chicago, and Rev. Dr. R. A. Fyfe, of Milwaukee, as- 
sisting. At this time, the church membership was forty-one. The 
church building was constructed of brick, forty-eight by sev- 
enty-eight feet in size, with a basement, fitted up for a lecture 
room, having seventy pews of black walnut neatly finished. 
The church was at that time the best building of the kind in 
the village. Mr. Miller continued as pastor until his resigna- 
tion in 1855, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Cooper, 
who supplied the church for one year, and in December, 1856, 
was succeeded by Rev. Wivi. R. Brooks, of Perry, N. Y., who 
occupied the pulpit until December, 1858. The church was 
supplied by various ministers until the summer of 1866, when 
Rev. W. H. Brisbane, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was invited to be- 
come pastor, who accepted the same and served until the time 
of the troubles at the South, when he resigned, and wag 
appointed chaplain to the First Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment. 
In 1863, Rev. J. E. Johnson accepted a call to preach, and oc- 
cupied the pulpit until 1865, when he retired, owing to ill 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 233 

health. He was succeeded by Rev. J. C. C. Clarke, of Chi- 
cago, who preached until 1871, when Rev. Mr. Paige, of the 
State of Maine, was engaged for about a year, since which time 
the church has had no settled minister. 

From the report of the Dane Baptist Association, the follow- 
ing statistics are taken: in 1850, there were M members; in 
1851, Rev. Mr. Whitman, pastor, 33 members; 1852, Rev. 
M. D. MiLLEE, 40 members; in 1853, 41 members; 1855, the 
same; 1856, 61 members; 1857, 68; 1858, Rev. Mr. Brooks pas- 
tor, 50; 1859,81; 1860, 81; 1861,70; 1862, 69; 1863, Rev. Mr. 
Johnson, pastor, 108; 1864,131; 1865, 135; 1867, Rev. J. C 
C. Clarke, pastor, 113; in 1868, 114. 

On the 2d of July, a meeting was called to organize a fire 
company, signed by H. A. Tenney, President, H. J. Northrop, 
Secretary. 

The " Madison Guards," a military company of 50 men, was 
formed August 25, 1853, of which J. D. Bradford was Cap- 
tain, J. D. Welch and C. Habich, Lieutenants. 

The Madison Institute was incorporated by act of the Legis- 
lature, approved July 13, 1853. Its object was " for the pur- 
pose of establishing and sustaining at Madison a reading room 
and library, and providing for and instituting literar}^ and sci- 
entific lectures, and other means of moral and intellectual im- 
provement." 

The Madison Encampment, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted, March 
3, 1853, with the following officers: David H. Wright, C. P.; 
C. B. Chapman, H. P.; Jas. Halpin, S. W.; E. Ilsley, Scribe; 
H. Nye, Treasurer; E. S. Oakley, J. W.; L. Cannon, S.; A. 
P. Ladd, G. E.; Chapman, Ilsley and Halpin, Trustees. 

The assessed valuation of the propert}^ of the village for the 
year 1853, was: real property, 1210,680; personal, $543,610; 
total, 1254,290. Tax, ^1,271.45. 

The number of votes polled at the corporation election in 
the spring, was 264. 

The officers selected for the 4th of July celebration were L. B. 
Vilas, President; D. Atwood and W. N. Seymour, Tice 
Presidents; H. S. Orton, Reader; A. F. Carman, Orator. 
16 



S34 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The improvements of the village for the year were large and 
valuable. Col. J. C. Fairchild erected his large stone block 
on the corner of Morris and Pinckney streets. It is built of 
cream colored sandstone, sixty-six feet on Morris or Main. 
street, and seventy feet on Pinckney street, designed for three 
stores on the first floor, the second story for offices, and the 
third, a large and commodious hall, 60 by 6Q feet. The base- 
ment rooms are entered by a stone stairway on Pinckney street.. 
W. D. Bkuen, Esq., of New Jersey, erected his elegant block 
on Pinckney street and Washington avenue. It is four stories 
high beside the basement, 80 feet on Pinckney street and 90 on 
the avenue, built of sandstone, well dressed, and tooth-chiseled 
style; the basement is reached by stone stairs, and divided into 
five rooms. The first floor, divided into five large stores, the 
walls 12i feet between the joists, fronts of double fiint French 
glass, 36 by 46 inches, supported by 12 stone and iron pillars. 
The second floor is reached by a five foot entrance on Pinckney 
street, with a flight of stone stairs, and from the avenue by the 
two flights of iron stairs, and iron balcony, 40 feet long — 
divided into ten large and convenient offices. The third floor 
into three large rooms or offices; and the fourth story in one 
large concert room, with ante-chambers; with an observatory, 
and was considered the most beautiful and costly block in 
the State at the time. J. L. Roundy was the architect and 
builder: Andrus Viall, master mason; A. S. Wood, stone 
cutter. A new jail, nearly completed, fronts on Henry street, 
and nearly in the rear of the Court House. It is 36 feet by 56 
feet, two stories high; the front part and basement used as the 
jailor's residence; the jail proper is divided into fourteen cells, 
eight below and six above, those in the second story being con- 
siderably larger than those in the first. It is built by the 
county of Dane. Jona. Larkin, A. A. Bird and J. R. Larkin, 
contractors, receiving $6,900. The lot cost ^^400, with fencing, 
etc., making in all about $7,500. The Presbyterian church 
edifice was this year (1853) completed. 

The foundation of the Catholic Cathedral was laid November 
17th, and the corner stone laid with appropriate ceremony by 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 235 

Bishop Henni, May, 28, 1854, on the grounds opposite the Court 
House on Main street. It is to be 120 feet in length by 60 in 
width, of fine cut stone. The edifice when completed will be 
a magnificent structure of great architectural beauty. The 
spire is designed to have a height of 150 feet. 

During the year Washington avenue was opened on the 
west side of the Capitol park, and King, now State street was. 
very much improved. 

During the fall, the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad 
Company selected their depot grounds, and the depot build- 
ing put under contract; the building to be one hundred and 
fifteen long by fifty feet wide, walls eighteen feet high, piazza 
and platform ten feet wide on each side — to be built of stone, 
and to be completed by January 1, 1851. The contract was 
awarded to Bird and Larkin who faithfully performed the 
work. The freight depot, engine house and other buildings 
were soon after erected. 

At the time the grounds were selected, which are now 
sprinkled over with warehouses, dwellings, etc., they were 
covered with a thick growth of coppice wood, and the whole 
tract between the freight depot and -the lake was a dense 
thicket of poplar and crab and plum trees. 

During the year, spiles were driven, and a beginning made at 
building the railroad l)ridge over the bay of Lake Monona. The 
bridge was finished in the spring of 1851 and the depot com- 
pleted. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was completed and dedi- 
cated on the 11th of September, 1853. 

H. S. Ortoj^, Esq., delivered an address at the Court House, 
October 3, 1853, on the death of Lieut. Gov. Timothy Burxs. 

In the fall of the year, we find that the Court House was 
used on Sunday as a house of worship. On the 10th of Octo- 
ber, Rev. Hexry Powers of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
preached at 10^ o'clock A. M.; Rev. M. D. Miller, Baptist, at 
2i P. M., and Rev. H. B. Gardiner, Presbyterian, at 4 P. M. 
No notice of its being occupied in the evening. 

Daxiel Gorum built a steam saw mill on Lake Mendota 



236 HISTORY OF MADISON A^D THE 

near the University grounds, during the year. It was bought 
by I. E. Browk in 1856, and changed to a foundry — pur- 
chased by P. H. TuRis'ER in 1859, and by him sokl to E. W. 
Sxu^jiTER. Mr. 0. S. WiLLEY, became a partner in 1861: and 
Hon. S. D. Hastings in 1865. This establishment did a large 
business in the manufacture of sugar mills; in the year 1865 
upwards of 500 of these mills were sold. 

The property now (1871) belongs to the Madison Manu- 
facturing Company. 

Dr. J. WARREi«r Hunt, in his Wisconsin Gazetteer^ pub- 
lished in 1853, says of Madison: ^' The present population is 
about 3,500, with 700 dwellings, 26 stores, 15 groceries, 11 
taverns, 2 large printing offices and a book bindery ; a grist mill 
with eight run of stone, 3 saw mills, one iron foundry, a woolen 
factory, an oil mill, 2 steam planing mills, a hominy mill pro- 
pelled by steam; a bank, the first organized in the State; three 
churches, with three others to be built during the present 
season ; and mechanical shops of all kinds." 

1851. On the 8th of April, a meeting was held to organize 
the Madison Institute, under the new charter, at which time a 
system of by-laws was. submitted, and an election held to select 
officers for the year. The following persons Avere elected: 
J. H. Latheop, LL. D., President; G. P. Delaplaine, J. R. 
Baltzell and W. A. White, Vice Presidents; Frank H. Fir- 
MiN, Recording Secretary; B. F. Hopkins, Corresponding Sec- 
retary; J. J. Starks, Treasurer; H. A. Tenney, Librarian, 
with a board of twelve Directors. A spacious reading room 
Tvas opened in the third story of Bruen's Block, and the tables 
well supplied with the periodical and newspaper press of the 
da}^ A department for debate was organized and a series of 
lectures to be delivered during the winter months. 

The village corporation election took place in March, and 
the following persons elected: Simeon Mills, President; P. H. 
Van Bergen, G. C. Albee, G. M. Oakley, resigned, and Chas. 
Weed, elected, Michael Friend, J. Livesey, A. Bishop, 
Trustees; D. Noble Johnson, Clerk; D. Clark, Treasurer; 
D. C. Bush, Assessor; and I. E. Brown, Marshal; and at the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 237 

election of town officers, on the 5th of April, Jehu H. Lewis, 
E. Summers and H. J. Hill were elected Supervisors; J. Dox- 
NELLON, Clerk; E. Doerschlag, Treasurer; David Holt, 
Superintendent of Schools, and A. Ogden and A. B. Braley, 
Justices of the Peace. 

In April, 1851, Damok Y. Kilgore was engaged as Princi- 
pal of the public school, and commenced his labors in the 
small brick school house on Washington avenue, now known 
as the " Little Brick School House." On the first day there 
were twenty-three pupils present, of different grades, speaking 
different languages and presenting a variegated appearance. 
For various reasons, several of the pupils were sent home the 
first day to be prepared for school in a proper manner (a 
judicious use of soap and water), most of whom returned in the 
afternoon very much improved in appearance. The number 
gradually increased until the house Avould not accommodate 
the pupils, and the school was removed to the basement of the 
Methodist church. Here the school was no less crowded than 
before. In the winter term, there were two hundred sixty- 
seven pupils in one room. This term, he was assisted by his 
sister, Miss Abby L. Kilgore. 

In the mean time, efforts were being made to incorporate the 
village of Madison into a separate school district. On the 25th 
of September, 1851, a meeting was held and a committee con- 
sisting of W. B. Jarvis, C. Abbot, D. J. Powers, G. P. Dela- 
PLAiNE, S. G. Stacy and W. A.White was appointed, whose duty 
it was to procure the passage of an act by the next legislature 
for the more efficient and permanent organization of the vil- 
lage of Madison as a school district. 

The following notice will show the result of the efforts of the 
committee, and the first organization of the present Board of 
Education : 

" School Meeting. — Notice is hereby given, that, pursuant 
to an act entitled ' an act incorporating the village of Madi- 
son into a separate School District,' approved February 13, 
1855, a meeting of the qualified voters of said district will be 
held at the school room, in the Vestry of the Methodist church 



238 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

on Tuesday February 20, 1855, at 7 P. M., to select six persons 
as the Board of Education of said village, and for the transac- 
tion of such other business as may come before them under 
the provisions of said act. D. S. Durrie, 

'' Clerk of School District No. 1, Madison:' 

Dayid H. Wright was elected Chairman of this meeting, 
and Fran^k H. Firmin^ Clerk. Six School Directors v^^ere 
elected, who should constitute the Board of Education of the 
village of Madison, comprising the following gentlemen: Sim- 
Eox Mills, W. B. Jarvis, L. J. Farwell, J. Y. Smith, D. H- 
Weight and W. A. White. 

In the month of May, 1854, a fire proof stone building was 
put on the grounds belonging to the Court House, for the 
offices of the county clerk, register of deeds and judge of pro- 
bate. The building was of stone, one story high, 41 feet in 
length by 27 feet in width. The work was performed by A. A. 
Bird, the contractor. 

The Capital House was completed and occupied this season. 
Mr. T. Stevens took charge as landlord on a lease for a term 
of years. He furnished the house in a superior manner. 

The railroad bridge of the M. and M. Railroad Co., begun the 
previous year, was finished in the spring of 1851, and the first 
train of pa>>senger cars came across the bridge on Thursday the 
18th of May. The track, however, was not laid up to the depot 
until the Monday succeeding; and on Tuesday the 23d, thecel- 
bration took place. 

The following is an extract from an article in the Daily State 
Journal of that date relative to the celebration: 

" Never was a day more auspicious. The heavens were 
cloudless, the air warm but not sultry, and in the golden floods 
of sunlight, the wide landscape of lake and forest and prairie, 
which forms the charming environment of our village, was 
' like a bright eyed face that laughs out openly.'' We trust that 
this is an omen of the success and future prosperity of the rail- 
road, and the enterprising, public spirited men under whose 
auspices it has been thus far steadily pushed forward. 

'' There was a larger turnout from the country than we had 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 239 

anticipated. By 10 o'clock, our streets were filled witli teams, 
and the sidewalks crowded with people. A great many of them 
were men who had settled in the country at an early day and 
had never seen a locomotive railroad. 

" By one o'clock P. M., the grounds about the depot were 
thronged with people anxiously obeying the injunction so com- 
mon along railroads, and looking out for the engine. We 
should judge that at least two thousand persons from the coun- 
try were about the depot and at the end of the bridge where 
the railroad crosses the bay. There were conflicting reports 
respecting the time when the cars would arrive, and the people 
had assembled rather earlier than they would otherwise, for 
that reason. Bright colored parasols, ranged in groups along 
the shore, lent liveliness to the scene. 

" The train did not arrive until a little after two o'clock, and 
many were growing impatient at the delay. At length, the 
unmistakable whistle of the engine was heard, and the long 
train, with two locomotives at its head swept grandly into 
sight — thirty-two cars crowded with people, and drawn by two 
locomotives. At the rear of the train were several racks, oc- 
cupied by the Milwaukee Fire Companies in gay red uniforms, 
with their glistening engines. Bands of music attended them, 
and, at intervals, as the train moved slowly across the bridge, 
the piece of artillery, brought along by the firemen, was dis- 
charged. It was a grand but strange spectacle to see this mons- 
ter train, like some huge, unheard of thing of life, with breath of 
smoke and flame, emerging from the green openings — scenes 
of pastoral beauty and quietude — beyond the placid waters of 
the lake. 

" From two thousand to two thousand five hundred people 
were on the train. On reaching the depot the}^ were welcomed, 
in a brief address by A. A. Bird, Esq., the President of the 
Day, which was responded to in appropriate manner by A. 
Finch, Jr., the attorney of the railroad company. E. B. Dean, 
Jr., and Thomas Reynolds were the marshals. A procession 
was formed, and the multitude proceeded to the Capital Park, 
where tables were spread and a dinner prepared. The comple- 



240 HISTORY. OF MADISON AND THE 

tion of this road has infused fresh vitality and energy into 
every channel of business, and has already doubled the trade 
and will speedily double the population of Madison. It is to be 
continued on to the Mississippi and completed at the earliest 
time practicable." 

The Regents of the University, at their meeting in February? 
1854, appointed a committee to advertise for bids for the con- 
struction of the second dormitory building on the plan of the 
first. The contract was awarded to Messrs. A. A. Bird and W. 
Larkin, who, with good and sufficient sureties, undertook to 
complete the building on or before the 1^ of June, 1855, for 
the sum $18,000. 

The north half of the edifice will contain sixteen study rooms, 
with bed-rooms and closets attached. In the other portions of 
the building, north of the south entry, are four public rooms, 
one in each story, thirty-six by twent3^-three feet; on the lower 
floor, the laboratory; on the second, the cabinet of minerals and 
specimens in other departments of physical science; on the 
third, the philosophical chamber; and on the fourth, the lib- 
rary. The extreme south wing is to be finished for residence, 
or for occupation for such studies as may be deemed expedient. 

In this year. Gov. L. J. Farwell sold to the State one hundred 
acres of land on the north side of lake Mendota for the location 
of the " Hospital for the Insane." It is about three miles from 
Madison by a direct line across the lake and six miles by car- 
riage road. The grounds also adjoin the track of the Chicago 
and Northwestern railroad. By an act of the legislature, ap- 
proved March 30, 1854, the Governor was authorized to appoint 
commissioners to prepare plans and let a contract for the erec- 
tion of a lunatic asylum, substantially on the plan of the 
asylum in Worcester, Mass., both in respect to design and ex- 
pense. In pursuance of this act. Gov. Barstow appointed com- 
missioners and a superintendent. The contract was awarded 
to Andrew Proudfit, and the work commenced. On the as- 
sembling of the legislature in 1855, that body annulled the 
contract on the ground that the plan adopted was much more 
extensive than had been authorized, and bore no particular re- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 24 f 

semblance to the Worcester Asylum, as well as for other reasons. 
The result of this action was that the work was suspended. It 
was revived in 1857, as will appear hereafter. 

During the year 1854, a new bridge was built across the 
Yahara, or Catfish; and Ex-Governor L. J. Farwell extended 
Washington avenue through his lands to the distance of a mile 
towards the northeast. This magnificent avenue, which has 
been opened by the individual enterprise of Governor Farwell. 
is now more than two miles in length, graded to a level, eight 
rods in width, and has a double row of trees — the inner row^ 
cotton wood, and the outer, maples — upon each side. It ter- 
minates at a point where the various roads coming into town' 
from the east, northeast and southwest, converge. When with- 
in a quarter of a mile of the Capitol Park, it ascends by a smooth 
and easy grade, the summit of the elevation crowned by the 
Capitol. 

The erection of the " Lake Side Water Cure," by DELAPLAmE 
& BuRDicK, was commenced in November, 1854, to be com- 
pleted June 1, 1855. The site selected for this institution is 
one of surpassing beauty, not equalled in this countrj^, if in 
any other. The grounds comprise a beautiful oak grove of 
fifty acres, situated immediately across the west point of Lake 
Monona or Fairy Lake, about two miles south of the Capitol, 
and one mile by water, and commanding a fine view of the 
city of Madison, the lakes, and the surrounding country. Over 
the grounds, just on the edge of the grove, flows a large and" 
beautiful stream of water, long known for its purity, from 
which the institution will be supplied. This stream has its 
source in never failing springs. 

The building stands upon an eminence about fifty feet above 
the water, and six hundred feet distant from the shore. The 
main building is ninety-two feet in length by forty in width, 
and four stories above the basement, capable of accommodating 
from eighty to one hundred guests. There are piazzas extend- 
ing the whole length of the building on the first and second 
stories. There is also a wing forty feet by thirty-eight, and 
two stories in height, which is principally devoted to bath- 



.242 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

rooms. The house is warmed throughout by steam heat — 
there is also connected with the engine, apparatus for cooking, 
washing, drying, ironing, supplying reservoir, etc., only one 
fire being necessary for the whole establishment. 

Dr. James E. Gkoss was resident physician at its opening. 
For some reason, the institution was not a success, and was 
subsequently altered and adapted for a public house; as such, 
it has been well patronized. It is occupied only as a summer 
liotel, and is a favorite resort for visitors from St. Louis and 
.other southern cities. 

In the month of February, the Madison Hydraulic Company 
was chartered, and was fully organized. Its object was to fur- 
nish the inhabitants a full and certain supply at all times of 
pure fresh water. In doing so, arrangements were to be per- 
fected to take water from Lake Mendota of a depth of at least 
twenty feet, and, by steam or other power, force it into a re- 
servoir upon a hill in the rear of the University, buildings — 
this hill being about forty feet higher than the Capitol park. 
A six or eight inch pipe to convey the water east — the whole 
length of State street — sending off smaller branches at the 
intersection of streets. It was supposed that water could be 
conveyed into the third stories of every building about the park, 
and much higher on the lower grounds. It was also proposed 
to have two or more fountains in the University grounds, facing 
the village, and four within the Capitol park. The whole ex- 
.pense not to exceed $40,000. The officers of the company 
were, H. A. Teis^j^ey, President; Wm. A. White, Secretary, and 
LEOi^^ARD J. Farwell, Treasurer. 

It is to be regretted that the company did not succeed in 
carrying out their plans. There was not a sufficient amount 
of stock subscribed to warrant the undertaking, and the pro- 
ject was abandoned. 

The Bank of the West was organized March 20, 1852, with 
SL capital of $100,000. S. A. Lowe, President, and W. L. Hii^s- 
DALE, Cashier. The bank commenced business on the second 
iioor of Bruen's Block. 

The Dane County Bank was organized, and went into busi- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 



243 



ness, October 2, 1854; capital, $50,000. L. B. Vilas, President; 
L. J. Farwell, Vice President; N. B. Van Slyke, Cashier; 
S. V. Chase, Teller; J. H. Slavin, Bookkeeper, and W. F. 
Vilas, Messenger. 

The following table exhibits the growth, in population, of 
Madison, since the first settlement: 



1837, - ■ 


I 


1844, - 


- 216 


I85I, - 


- - 2,306 


1838, . 


- 62 


1846, - 


- 2S3 


IS52, - 


- 2,973 


1840, - 


- 146 


IS47, - ■ 


■ - 632 


1853, - 


- 4»o29 


1842, 


172 


1850, - 


1,672 


1854, - 


5,126 



About 1,000 buildings have been erected here since 181:7; a 
portion of them of dressed stone and elegant style, with some 
of the finest blocks in the west. The projected number this 
year (1851), is 350. 



244 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 



CHAPTER VII. 

HoEACE Greeley's Visit 1855. — Elections 1855-'61 — Gas Light 
AND Coke Co. — Grace Church History, Continued — Schools, 
1855-6 — Public and Private Improvements — Congregational 
Church History, Continued — Fourth of July Celebrations, 
1855-61 — Incorporation as a City, 1855 — Business Firms — 
Peat Beds — City Hall — University Buildings — Hospital, 
FOR Insane Commenced, and New State Capitol Projected — 
Organization of Military Companies — Notice of Hon. T. 
W. Sutherland — Op Col. James Morrison — City Improve- 
ments — Rebellion History, 1861. 

In the month of March, 1855, Horace Greeley visited 
Madison, and in May, Bayard Taylor made a visit. Both of 
these gentlemen wrote flattering letters of their impressions, to 
the Neiv York Tribune. Mr. Greeley writes: 

" Madison has the most magnificent site of any inland town 
I ever saw, on a graceful swell of land, say two miles north 
and south by a mile and a half east and west, rising gently 
from the west bank of one of a chain of four lakes, and having 
another of them north northwest of it. These lakes must 
each be eight or ten miles in circumference, half surrounded 
by dry, clean oak forests, or rather ' timbered openings,' which 
need but little labor to convert them into the finest parks in 
which fair homes ever nestled. A spacious water-cure estab- 
lishment has just been erected in one of these forests across 
the lake south-eastwardly from Madison, and shows finely both 
from the city and the railroad as you approach it. The Capitol 
is toward the south end of the built up city, in a fine natural 
park of twenty acres, and is not worse planned than most of 
our public buildings. The University crowns a beautiful emi- 
nence a mile west of the Capitol, with a main street connecting 
them a la Pennsylvania avenue. There are more comfortable 
private mansions now in progress in Madison than in any other 
place I have visited, and the owners are mostly recent immi- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 245 

grants of means and cultivation, from New England, from 
Cincinnati, and even from Europe. Madison is growing very 
fast. * * * * gl^g l^^g ^ glorious career before her." 

In consequence of the numerous favorable reports regarding 
Madison as a place of business, published in eastern papers, no 
western town was more prominently brought before the pub- 
lic. Some of these newspaper correspondents were so profuse 
in their compliments about the beauty and advantages of 
Madison as a place of settlement, that a marked effect was no- 
ticed in the increase of population and the advancement in the 
prices of real property, not only in the village, but in the ad- 
joining country. 

The following persons were elected corporation officers for 
the year 1855: P. H. Van Bergen, President; L. J. Farwell, 
H. A. Tenney, Wm. Carroll, L. W. Hoyt, J. G. Griffin and 
J. Sumner, Trustees; D. Noble Johnson, Clerk; Alonzo Wil- 
cox, Treasurer; D. C. Bush, Assessor, and I. E. Brown, Mar- 
shal. At this election, 522 votes were polled. The contest 
although warm in some respects, had nothing to do with 
politics. 

On the ITth of January, an act of the legislature was 
approved incorporating the Madison Gas Light and Coke Com- 
pany; L.J. Farwell, Simeon Mills, Julius P. Atwood, Fran- 
cis G. TiBBiTs, David Atwood, Henry Parkins, Samuel 
Marshall, N. W. Dean, B. F. Hopkins, Levi B. Vilas and 
David J. Powers, being the corporators, and who were consti- 
tuted the first Board of Directors. The directors, at their first 
meeting, elected J. P. Atwood, President; B. F. Hopkins, Sec- 
retary, and L. J. Farwell, Treasurer. At the same meeting, 
■held January 20th, a contract was entered into with H. Park- 
iifs & Co., to erect the necessary buildings for the sum of 
It35,000. The work was faithfully performed, and on the 10th 
of July, a celebration was had in the village, at which time, two 
two thousand to twenty-five hundred persons attended in front 
of the Capitol. Speeches were made by M. H. Orton, W. N. 
Seymour, J. W. Johnson, C. Abbot, A. A. Bird, and L. B. 
Vilas. 



246 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The gas works were located on the low ground, northeast of 
the Capitol, on lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 of block 151. This enterprise, 
in the hands of the company, did not succeed as well as had 
been anticipated. The works were subsequently leased by the 
company to B. F. Hopkin^s, under whose energetic and skillful 
management, the gas was soon conducted through the prin- 
cipal streets of the town, and within two years, had over 
five miles of pipe laid, and the enterprise became a decided 
success. 

The election of town officers took place, April 4, with the 
following result: H. J. Hill, Chairman; R. T. White and R. 
T. Davis, Supervisors; Willet S. Main, Clerk; C. G. Mayees^ 
T. Reynolds and Geo. A. Barwise, Assessors; G. C. Albee, 
Treasurer; Darwin Clark, School Superintendent; Wm. 
Welch and W. F. Baker, Justices of the peace. 

In the month of May, Ex Gov. L. J. Farwell commenced 
building an octagon house, three stories high, each side 
twenty-five feet in length, making the whole circumference 
two hundred feet — of dressed stone. It is situated on Lake 
Monona, three-quarters of a mile from the capitol. The barn 
and stable is of similar architecture, of stone, one hundred and 
sixty feet in circumference, the walls of which were early com- 
pleted. John T. Martha, Esq., commenced building nearly 
the same time, a fine two story stone residence a short distance 
east of the former. Gov. Farwell occupied his residence for 
a few years when it was sold to Samuel Marshall, and 
subsequently was enlarged and altered for a " Hospital for 
Wounded Soldiers " during the war, and more recently occu- 
pied as the " Soldiers' Orphans' Home." 

In April, 1855, the Rev. J. B. Brittan, of Dayton, Ohio, vis- 
ited Madison, and was invited to take charge of the parish of 
Grace church. The invitation was accepted, and he entered 
upon the duties of his charge June 1, 1855. The chapel, en- 
larged and refitted at an expense of l'l,000, was occupied for 
the first time on Sunday, the 17th of June, 1855. The chapel 
being soon found inadequate to the wants of the parish, a sub- 
scription was set on foot, headed by a generous friend in the 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 247 

amount of 81,200, and soon reaching the sum of eight thou-- 
sand dollars, for the erection of a church edifice. A plan was 
agreed upon, and on the 25th of September, the same year, the 
foundation was commenced. 

The building committee were ex-Gov. L. J. Far well, W. A, 
Mears, H. K. LAWREiq^cE, P. H. Yajs" Bergej^ and I. W. De 
Forrest. 

The following account of the building is given in the 
newspapers of that time. It is in the Gothic style, and com- 
posed of a tower, nave and chancel. The main entrance is 
through the tower by two large and massive doors. The tower" 
is twenty-two feet square, forming a spacious vestibule. It will 
be a prominent feature of the structure, and is located at the- 
corner of the nave — fronting on the corner of Carroll street 
and Washington avenue. It is supported at the angles by mas- 
sive buttresses, diminishing as they ascend, and terminating in 
handsome panneled and foliated pinnacles, at a height of eighty 
feet from the sidewalk. The whole height of the tower and spire 
is one hundred and forty feet wide, and the building will comfort- 
ably seat six hundred persons. The walls are thirty-three feet 
high, and the highest point of the gable on which is fixed a 
neat Greek cross, is fifty-six feet. The east front is lighted by a 
large trillioned window, twelve feet by thirty, and supplied 
with stained glass. The sides and ends are supported by heavy 
buttresses which add to its strength and symmetry. These 
buttresses terminate in foliated pinnacles. The chancel 
is twenty-two by eighteen feet, and flanked on respective sides- 
by an organ room and vestry, and is connected with the nave 
by a broad and high arch. It is lighted at the end by a triple- 
lancet- window, with stained glass like the one in front. 

The interior is to be furnished in tasteful and costly style ;^ 
the ceiling to be an elliptic Gothic arch, richly adorned with 
stucco work, composed of heav}^ ribs — interlaced Gothic arches 
running from the apex of the ceiling to the springing, and ter- 
minating there on elegantly carved corbels. The interstices of 
the ribs are to be ornamented with carved bosses. The pulpit 
is of octagonal form, and located on the south side of the chan-- 



■248 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

eel arch, and is entered from the vestry-; on the north side of 
the chancel arch is the reading desk and organ. The nave is 
thirty-six feet high from the floor to the apex of the ceiling. 
The plan was de signed hy Messrs. J. & A. Douglas, of Milwau- 
kee, and the whole is estimated to cost, when completed, $16,000. 
It is to be of cut stone, and when finished, will be one of the 
finest edifices in the country. 

The size of the building will be 112 by 74 feet. The nave, 80 
by 42 feet, containing 80 pews, and will comfortably seat 500 
persons. 

The building was in readiness for public worship early in 
1858; the tower, however, being incomplete and the basement 
unfinished. The cost of the church, as then completed, was 
^bout $22,000. In October, 1861, the Rev. Mr. Brittai^ having 
having accepted an appointment as chaplain in the army, ten- 
dered his resignation as rector, to take effect November 1, 
which was accepted. 

A Madison paper of April 11, 1855, referring to the improve- 
ments going on, says: 

" Never before was the building mania in Madison more ap- 
parent than now. Go where you will — visit whichever part 
of town you may — and you see on all sides — in every nook 
and corner — apparently upon every lot, the most active busy- 
l)ustle preparations for building. You pass an untouched, 
vacant lot in the morning, and at night you will find it strew- 
ed over with building materials — a foundation laid, frame raised 
for a good sized house, nearly clapboarded, and partly painted. 
This is what we saw last week. There are now no less than 150 
and perhaps 200 buildings commenced and in the various stages 
of completion, in this town, to-day, and yet building has barely 
commenced. It seems that everybody is coming to Madison, 
and everybody who does, must build. One stimulus to building 
this season, is the fact that materials, etc., are much cheaper, as 
we are informed, than usual." 

Another paper says: " Business in real estate in our city 
is becoming lively. We have before us the operations of a 
.single individual, during the week last past. From this, it ap- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 249 

pears tliat this person was one party to sales amounting in the 
aggregate to 133,000. This is simply the operations of one 
man, in one week, and the property that changed hands is all 
within the city limits. Others, no doubt, have done as much, 
and perhaps more, of which we have no account. There has 
been no time when the business prospects of our place were 
brighter than at present. Strangers are flocking into the city 
in large numbers; all delighted with the place, and taking up 
their residence among us. In addition to an active business in 
■sales of lots and lands, the building of stores, shops and dwel- 
lings is unusually active this spring. New buildings are being 
erected in every direction, and some of them of a superior 
order. It is truly gratifying to witness such indisputable evi- 
dences of prosperity. Long may it continue." 

Mr. D. Y. KiLGORE, Superintendent of the village schools, in 
his report for the year 1855, says, the whole number that have 
attended school during the year is 750; that the whole number 
of children, by the last census, is 1,600; that the only build- 
ing owned by the village for educational purposes is a small 
brick school house — fast becoming obsolete and incapable of 
.accommodating one-thirtieth part of those entitled to public 
school instruction, and attributes the fact that so large a pro- 
portion of pupils attend no school whatever, to the shameful 
lack of school accommodations and strongly urges on the Board 
of Education and the village authorities the necessity of for- 
ward schools and one High School. 

R. S. Baco:n^, of Cincinnati, Ohio, during the year, made a 
purchase of the lot on the corner of Mifflin and Pinckney streets, 
for a Commercial and Business College, and Simeo?^ Mills 
built a block of four stories adjoining those previously built by 
Mills & Catlij^ on King street. They were of stone, uniform 
with the other. 

S. R. Fox made a purchase of the grounds on the corner of 
Main and Carroll streets, for a block of stone buildings, to be 
erected the succeeding year. Willet S. Main^ put up his stone 
block, corner of Mifflin and Carroll streets; Leoj^ard Nolden", 
a similar building on State street, on the block west toward 
17 



250 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

the University, to be occupied as a hotel; and the elegant resi- 
dences of J. E. Ken'dall, corner of Langdon and Pinckney 
streets, and W. B. Jarvis' octagon house on Wilson street, 
were erected; and among others, were the residences of N. B. 
Van Slyke, Mr. Ashmead, I. N. De Forest, H. H. Hayes, A. 
BoTKiN and H. B. Staines. Much attention was bestowed this 
season upon sidewalks, many miles of which were laid in differ- 
ent parts of the village. 

The Board of Education established three grades of schools: 
the High School, the Intermediate and the Primary, under the 
immediate supervision of a Superintendent, and the general 
supervision of the Board, and the system has continued with- 
out material change to the present time. By the act of incor- 
poration, the Board was authorized to borrow 110,000 on the 
credit of the village, and the Board of Trustees authorized to 
issue bonds for the amount, for the purpose of erecting Union 
school houses. But the Board of Education were unable to 
induce the Board of Trustees to issue the bonds, the latter be- 
ing of the opinion that $10,000 was a larger debt than the vil- 
lage ought to incur at one time, and nothing was done in the 
way of building that year. 

In the summer of this year, the Congregational church in- 
vited Rev. N. H. Eggleston^ of Plymouth church, Chicago,, 
to become pastor, and its call w^as accepted. The spirit- 
ual and material prosperity of the church rapidly increased^ 
and within a year, nearly fifty were added to its membership. 
The church room becoming too narrow for the needs of the 
congregation, in 1856, they moved first into the large hall of 
Bacon's Commercial College, which was then ready for occu- 
pancy, and then built a brick chapel which they occupied until 
1873-4. This chapel is situated on the east side of Washington 
avenue, on lots 5 and 6, block ^^^ with accommodations for 
about 500 persons. It was built at the expense of $4,400, with 
the hope of soon adding to it a church building. In May, 1858, 
Mr. Eggleston retired from the pastorate and soon after re- 
turned east, where he has been for a number of years pastor of 
the church in Stockbridge, Mass., so long honored by the min- 



FOUR LAKE COVXTRY OF WISCOXSIN: 251 

istration of Joj^athak Edwards. He lias since then been 
connected with the faculty of Williams College, in the chair of 
rhetoric. 

The usual anniversary services of the 4th of July were this 
year changed. Under the direction of Charles G. Mayers, 
Esq., a regatta was held on Lake Monona, open to sail boats 
and row boats. It is supposed some three thousand persons 
were present. This was the first regatta held on the lake. Hon. 
L. J. Farwell, Alex. T. Gray, G. P. Delaplaine, Dr. Otis 
HoYT and Hon. A. Mc Arthur, judges. The whole went off 
very satisfactorily, and was a decided success. 

The members of Grace Church (Episcopal) held a meeting- 
on the 6th of August, Rev. J. B. Brittan presiding, and J. G. 
Ki^APP, secretary, at which time a committee' was appointed, 
consisting of Hon. L. J. Faravell, William A. Mears and H. 
K. Lawrexce, to solicit subscriptions for the erection of a 
church edifice. 

The real property of the village was assessed this year at 
$284,700; personal, $39,300. The corporation receipts were 
$5,836.09. Liabilities unpaid, $963.56. 

The census of the village, as reported January 26, 1855, 
showed 3,781 males, 3,082 females; total, 6,863. 

The amount of tonnage received at the Madison depot, over 
the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad, and forwarded from 
there, as shown in the tabular statement published, exhibits 
the amount of business greater, perhaps, than any other town 
in Wisconsin, in proportion to its size. The whole amount of 
merchandise transported over the road westward, was 27,580,378 
lbs; the amount received here was 12,596,023, almost one-half 
of all shipped over the road. The whole number of bushels of 
wheat shipped eastward was 1,931,407, and from this place, 
604,624, almost one-third of the whole. 

On the 2d of February, 1856, the Board of Trustees of 
the village appointed a committee, consisting of A. A. Bird, 
Simeox Mills, Dr. Thos. O. Edavards and J. P. Atwood, to 
draw up a city charter, and to procure its passage before the 
legislature then in session. The bill was drawn, and Madi^ 



252 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

son became a Cifi/ by an act approved March 4. On the 11th 
of March, the first city election was held. Jairus C. Fair- 
child* being an Independent, and Julius P. Atwood the 
Democratic candidate for Mayor; the former received 711 votes, 
and the latter 506, electing Col. Fairchild by a majority of 
205. Abraham B. Braley received 784 votes for Police Jus- 
tice, against 419 cast for Wm. Welch; Johnso:n^ J. Starks, 
632 votes for Treasurer, against 370 for Alfred Main; Fred 
MoFR, 503 votes for Marshal, against 383 for Stephej^ G. Ben- 
edict. 

The following Aldermen were elected: 

First Ward — Adam Kr.etz, Thos. Herean and A. E. Brooks. 

Second Ward — N. B. Van Slyke, D. J. Powers and John 
N. Jones. 

Third Ward— C. G. Mayers, P. H. Van Bergen and A. S. 
Wood. 

Fourth Ward — S. M. Van Bergen, Jos. Hobbins and Tim. 
Kinney. 

D. H. Wright, Dr. J. W. Hunt, H. N. Foster and D. C. 
Bush, Justices of the Peace, and W. N. Seymour elected Clerk 
by the City Council. 

*Col. Jairus C. Fairchild, was born at Granville, Washington county, 
N. Y., December 27, 1801. He removed to Ohio in 1S22, settling first at 
Hudson, then at Franklin Mills, Portage county, in 1S26, where he was 
engaged in business as tanner and currier, having for a partner the 
celebrated '' Capt. John Brown. He removed to Cleveland in 1834, and 
was engaged in merchandise, and was Secretary of the Cleveland and 
Newburgh Railroad Company. He removed to Wisconsin, with his family, 
in June, 1846, and at the organization of the State Government was 
elected State Treasurer, which office he held from August, 1848, to De- 
cember 31, 1851. 

Col. F. was prominently identified with the business enterprises of Mad- 
ison, and died here July 18, 1862, aged about 61 years. He left four chil- 
dren: Lucius, who has served six years as Governor of the State, and was 
distinguished for his cervices in the late rebellion ; Cassius, who died at Mil- 
waukee of wounds received in the war; Charles, now of Boston, connected 
with the Navy Department during the war, and a daughter, Mrs. E. B. 
Dean, of this place. Mrs.J.C. Fairchild died at Madison, October 21, 1866, 
aged 65 years. 



FOUR LAKE COVXTRY OF WISCONSIN. 253 

The officers of Grace Church advertised, February 8, for four 
hundred cords of stone, with a view to commence the erection 
of their church edifice. 

The Dailf/ Argus, of April 28, in speaking of the improve- 
ments commenced for the year, says: "We notice five first- 
cLiss dwellings going up, five brick dwellings, forty, framed 
dwellings, and sixteen stone and brick buildings for stores, in 
progress." The evidence of thrift and enterprise was very ap- 
parent. The number of new comers was large and increasing, 
and the prospects for the growth and prosperity of the city 
were never so promising. The State Journal of June 3, gives 
the names of the more important business firms and institu- 
tions in the city, as follows: The brick block built by W. D. 
Brue^, and known as Bruejs^'s Block, occupied by the Dane 
County Bank, and J. Richardson- & Co., on the corner, as 
land agents; Hale & Harris, dry goods; D. S. Durrie, books 
and stationery, and D. Holt, jeweler, and Wright & Mayers 
as land agents and agents of American Express Company, all on 
the first floor. The second floor by Ortoj^ & Hopkixs, At- 
wooD & Haskell, and Hood& Tei^j^ey, attorneys; Drs. Bowe^ 
&BARTLETT, physicians; Maul & Grimm, book binders; State 
Agricultural Society, Powers & SKm^s^ER, publishers, and State 
Journal editorial rooms. The third story by the Madison 
Mutual Insurance Company, Madison Gas Light Company, S. 
V. Shipmax, architect; the City Council and Clerk's office; the 
Norske Amerikan, :N'orwegian newspaper; N. W. Dean, office; 
W. H. WYMA^q^, insurance agent, and Western Telegraph Com- 
pany. The fourth story, the State Journal printing office; 
Museum of the Wisconsin Natural History Association, and 
Mr. Broi^soj^, artist. The basement by Hale & Harris, as an 
eating saloon. The building adjoining, on Pinckney sti-eet, by 
S. Marshall, as the State Bank, on the main floor; Delaplaii^e 
& BuRDicK on second floor, and by ex-Gov. Farwell as a real 
estate office. The frame building next east, by L. Guild & Co., 
dry goods; similar building adjoining, by Colwell & Co., drug- 
gists; next, G. W.GiLMAX, boots and shoes, the second floor by 
Dr. J. C. HowELLS, dentist. The next building of brick, known 



254 HIS TOE Y OF MADISON AND THE 

as the Badger Building, first floor, Catlin", Williamso^st and 
Barwise, land office and exchange dealers, and Smith & Keyes, 
as attorneys. The upper part used by the United States 
Hotel, which adjoins it on the east. The basement by W. H. 
NoLAND, barber, and P. L. Mohr, real estate dealer. The 
United States Hotel, kept by Gilbert Dutcher. In Fair- 
child's block, on Main street, S. Klauber & Co., dry goods, 
occupied two stores on the first floor, and H. B. Merrill, cloth- 
ing; the second floor as the St. Julien saloon; the third floor 
by Langrishe & Atwater, as a theatre. In the basement, A. 
P. DcERscHLAG, as a saloon. The adjoining frame buildings, by 
Gleason & Memhard on the first floor, dry goods and hard- 
ware, and G. E. Woodw^ard, attorney ; the next, by Isaac Bon- 
nell, stove store, and A. Neuhoff, clothing; adjoining, by 
Donaldson & Tredw^ay, dry goods, and second floor by Abbot, 
Clark and Coit, attorneys, the banking house of M. T. Mar- 
tin; B. U. Caswell's hat store and French as a saloon. The 
next brick store, owned by J. C. Fairchild, occupied by D. C. 
Poole, dry goods and crockery, and second floor by Vilas, 
Rots and Pinney, Drs. Gray and Brown, Col. Fairchild's 
office, and that of Wm. Welch, Justice of the Peace. The 
adjoining building, the Capitol House, kept by Nelson and 
PussELL, and by Cook and Belden, jewelers, and M. Strauss, 
as tobacconist. Across Wisconsin avenue, the next business 
firm is R. T. Curtis & Co. (T. Reynolds), dry goods and gro- 
ceries, in the brick store built by W. C. Wells in 1851; the 
next by W. B. Jarvis, land agent, and T. S. Woodw^ard, drugs 
and medicines, and S. R. Fox, hardware; and across Carroll 
street. Miss McMahon, milliner, A. Abbott, marble shop, and 
Sanderson, milliner, Reuil Noyes, land office. The adjoining 
building across Fairchild street being the County Court House. 
Among other buildings erected this year, was P. H. Van 
Bergen's block, corner of Clymer and Pinckney streets; R. S. 
Bacon & Co., commercial college building; Billings & Car- 
man's plow manufactory; city engine houses; Fox & Atw^ood's 
elegant stone block, occupied by S. R. Fox; Mrs. Trevoy and 
A. Rasdall, stone block on King street; James Campbell, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 255 

planing mill on Washington avenue south of the Capitol, and 
several fine private residences. 

The Merchants' Bank of Madison was this year organized 
under the general banking law. Hon. A. A. Bliss of Ohio, 
President, and C. T. Flowers, Cashier. It commenced busi- 
ness in Bruex's block, July 2. 

There was no celebration on the 4th of July. An excursion 
was had to Mazomanie, in which many participated. There 
was also a regatta on Lake Mendota. 

The post o£ace was removed, July 27, to their new rooms in 
P. H. Ya]s- Bergek's block. The office is twenty feet wide by 
^ixty-five feet deep and twelve high. Has 1,100 letter boxes 
and 100 private drawers. The usual daily mail matter received 
is from 20 to 50 bushels, and during the sessions of the legisla- 
ture, one to three hundred bushels. 

The " Madison St. George's Society," was organized and held 
their first meeting, August 13. The officers for 1856 were: Dr. 
Jos. HoBBixs, President; W. B. Jakvis and R. Shqeeocks, 
Vice Presidents; H. Wright, Treasurer; J. W. Mayhew, 
Recording Secretary; Wm. Welch, Corresponding Secretary; 
Dr. Wm. Hobbins, Physician. 

R. S. Bacoi^'s commercial college was opened in January, 
1856, and was very successful. In the fall of 1858, it was pur- 
>chased by D. H. Tullis. It was continued without interrup- 
tion under his charge until 1865, when, by mutual arrange- 
ment, it passed into the hands of Woethixgtox & Waexek, 
hy whom it was continued in Youiq"G's block, on Main street, 
.and more recently in W. J. & F. Ellsworth's building on 
Pinckney street. 

The Dane county peat beds were discovered this year. Mr. 
Hough, County Surveyor, made a plat of the peat bog lying 
on the lands of Cols. W. B. and Geo. H. Slaughter and Wm. 
Greeks', lying six miles west of Madison, and immediately on 
the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad There are three 
irregularly shaped beds contiguous to each other, which lie 
in depressions of the surface; the whole outline gives unmis- 
takable evidence of having been, at a remote period, covered 



256 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

with Walter. Mr. Hough estimates that the one hundred and 
fifteen acres contain nearly 350,000 solid cords of peat. Efforts 
have been made to manufacture the article to be used for heat- 
ing purposes, but for some some reason they have not been en- 
tirely successful. 

In 1856, the village having become a city, the Common 
Council, on the 20th of August, appropriated 824,000 for the 
erection of school houses in the four w^ards of the city. Here 
the matter rested, with some trifling progress in the selection 
of sites, until after the council had raised from the sale of city 
bonds, and had at its disposal a large amount of money. The 
sites for school houses having been selected or assented to, and 
paid for by the Common Council out of the money set apart 
for that purpose, at a cost of 16,887.50, the Board of Education 
immediately thereafter advertised for proposals for the erection 
of the four school houses, to be built of stone, forty by fifty 
feet on the ground, and two stories high. When, however, the 
proposals were received, the season for building had so far 
passed, that it was deemed advisable to construct but two 
houses during the season (1856), leaving the remaining two 
to be erected the following spring. Accordingly, contracts 
were entered into for the erection of school houses in the First 
and Third Wards, to be completed by January 1, 1857. After 
the work had so far advanced that it became necessary to 
make payments to the contractors, the Common Council were 
applied to for money for that purpose, but refused for some 
reason never made known to the Board. In consequence of this. 
action of the Council, the Board of Education were deprived 
of the means of continuing the work, or meeting the engage- 
ments they had entered into, and the contractors brought suits 
to recover pay for work performed and for damages for non- 
performance on the part of the Board. 

From the report of the Superintendent, w^e learn that the 
whole number of scholars attending school during the year, is 
694; less by 56 than the number reported last j^ear. The cen- 
tral or High School was kept in the old Congregational church, 
and has 133 pupils, of which number 67, are in the higher Eng- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 237 

lish and classical departments. Eight teachers had been en- 
gaged. 

The annual election of city officers for 1857, took place in 
April. For Mayor, A. A. Bird received 763 votes, and F. G. 
TiBBiTTS, 672 — the former was elected. Fred. Sauthoff was 
elected Treasurer, receiving 735 votes, and C. H. Billixgs 683. 
The Aldermen elected were: Thos. Heeran and C. Zwicky, 
1st ward; David J. Powers and J. T. Clark, 2d ward; J. C, 
(triffin and David Hyer, 3d ward; and Dr. Jos. Hobbies and 
T. Kinney, 4th ward. 

The First and Third ward school houses were completed and 
occupied this year. They are fine two story stone buildings,, 
built after the same plan, and costing the sum total of $9,500, 
exclusive of furnishing. In each building, the second story 
has one large study room, capable of seating one hundred 
pupils, with a recitation room adjacent to and leading out of 
the main room. The lower story is divided into two rooms 
communicating with each other, used for primary and inter- 
mediate departments. They are each capable of seating sixty- 
five pupils. 

The City Superintendent, Mr. D. Y. Kilgore, in his report 
says: " At this time, 1857, there are eleven separate schools, in 
which are employed fifteen teachers. The whole amount 
expended for rent of school houses, repairs, fuel, incidental 
expenses and teachers' wages, is less than $6,000; and that, 
according to the school census, 1,865 children between the 
ages of four and twenty, reside within the city limits." 

On the ttth of Jul}^, the Germans had an extempore celebra- 
tion. Aug. Kreur, Orator. The firemen had also a celebra- 
tion; the Declaration of Independence read by Prof. E. S, 
Carr, and addresses by MYRO>q" H. Ortoj^, Chaukcey Abbot, 
J. W. JoHK^soN- and S. D. Carpenter. A circus performance, 
with caliope music, was a feature in the celebration. 

The Wisconsin Bank of Madison was organized during the 
year. M. D. Miller, President, and Noah Lee, Cashier. 

N. B. Van" Slyke and A. A. McDonnell erected their beau- 
tiful residences near Lake Mendota, during the season; and the 



^58 HISTORY OF 3IADIS0X AND THE 

American Hotel was enlarged by an addition, sevent}" by thirty 
feet, three stories. Bradford Williams, proprietor. 

The City Hall building was in process of erection in 1857. 
The size of the same is fifty by one hundred feet, three stories 
high, with a front on Mifflin and Wisconsin avenue. DoN- 
oyfELL & KuTZBOCK, architects. The first story, above the base- 
ment, designed for stores; the second floor for the use of the 
city council and city officers, and the third floor, in one large 
2'oom, for public meetings, concerts, etc. 

The chapel of the Congregational Church, on Washington 
avenue, was commenced in September. The building is forty- 
three by seventy-two feet. Jas. Jack & Co., carpenters, and 
J. W. Harvey, masons. 

The German Catholic Church on Johnson street, between 
Carroll and Henry streets, and the German Evangelical Luth- 
eran, on Main street, between Broome and Bassett streets, 
were also erected this year. 

An act was passed by the legislature, approved February 28, 
1857, enabling the Board of Regents of the State University, 
to borrow 110,000 from the principal of the University Fund, 
for the construction of the main edifice of the University, to 
contain all the public rooms required in an institution of learning 
of the first class. After much consultation, the board adopted 
a plan for the edifice, of the Roman Doric style of architecture, 
combining beauty of outline with convenience of internal 
arrangement. The drawings were furnished by William 
TixsLEY, Esq., of Indianapolis, an architect of experience and 
reputation. The edifice to contain a chapel, a lecture room for 
each department with study annexed for the use of the Pro- 
fessor; apartments for library, apparatus, cabinet, and for col- 
lections in natural science and in art. 

The plan was accepted, arid the contract for the building 
awarded to James Campbell for the entire work complete at 
$36,550, he being the lowest bidder. The stone work of the 
basement story was in an advanced state of forwardness in the 
fall of 1857, and it was expected that it would be completed 
before winter, so as to enable the building committee to com- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 259 

plete the entire structure before the first day of November, 1858. 

The committee in their report say: "The exterior plan of 
the building is a model of architecture, imposing and massive; 
and the internal arrangements are such as to most fully meet 
the wants and necessities of the institution in all its several 
departments.'" 

The ground was broken for the construction of the building 
on the first of June, 1857. The following is a brief account of 
its arrangement : It stands on the highest point of ground in the 
University Park, one hundred feet above the level of the lake, 
and the water table of the structure will be more elevated than 
the dome of the present (the old) Capitol. The general design 
of the building is a parallelogram, one hundred and forty by 
seventy feet^ and about sixty feet to the cornice; to be sur- 
mounted by a dome Avhose extreme height will be nearly one 
hundred and fifty feet. It is not, however, a building of plain 
surface, like those now erected, but is broken by angles and 
projections, securing additional convenience and higher archi- 
tectural eff'ect — giving adequate space for its cabinet collec- 
tions, laboratory, scientific apparatus, libraries, reading rooms, 
society rooms, etc. 

The old log house on Butler street — the first dwelling 
erected in Madison — built in the spring of 1837, and occupied 
by Eben^ Peck, the pioneer settler, as a hotel, was torn down 
to make way for some handsomer if not better structure, in the 
month of May. It was old, decayed, and must have tumbled 
in at no distant day, had the work of destruction not been 
hastened. 

Very soon after the organization of the State government, 
the Capitol building became inadequate to the proper accom- 
modation of the several departments, which had been brought 
into being, and the business of which rapidl}' increased with 
the growth of the State. Still, by renting rooms in other 
buildings, it was made to answer the purpose for ten years 
after Wisconsin was admitted into union. 

It had now become apparent that a new capitol must 
be built without further delay, and the necessity gave rise 



260 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

to a proposition, in the legislature of that ;year, to remove 
the seat of government from Madison to some other point. 
Whether there was any real danger of the success of the 
proposition or not, the people of Madison became alarmed and 
voted to donate to the State ^50,000 in city bonds to aid in the 
construction of a new capitol upon the old site. This propo- 
sition was accepted by the legislature, and on the third of 
March, an act was passed authorizing the enlargement of the 
State Capitol, By this act, . the Commissioners of School and 
University Lands, were directed to sell the ten sections of land 
appropriated by Congress " for the completion of the public 
buildings," and apply the proceeds towards enlarging and 
improving the State Capitol. The State also appropriated 
830,000 for the same object. The Governor and Secretary 
of State were made commissioners for conducting the work. 
The plans of Messrs. Don-j^ell & Kutzbock, then architects 
living at Madison, were adopted, and the east wing was put 
under contract, and John" Ryecraft of Milwaukee, received 
the award, being the lowest bidder, at -$92,000. Mr. Ryecraft 
subsequently gave up the contract and it was awarded to A. A. 
McDoi^NELL. The work was completed and occupied by the 
Assembl}^ in 1859. The following is a brief account of the 
building: The basement is divided into two rooms, twenty- 
three by thirty-five feet, and two, twenty-six by forty-five feet. 
In the first story the same — all these being fire proof, or 
covered with fire proof arches, the latter to be the governor's 
and his secretary's, and the secretary of state's appartments. 
In the upper story an assembly chamber,* sixty-five by sixty- 
seven feet; one room for the speaker of the house, a clerk's 
room, a postofiice, and a cloak and hat room; and the ladies' 
and gentlemen's galleries, two separate galleries leading to the 
latter. In front of this projection, a massive stone platform 
ten feet wide. The roof above it being supported by ten 
columns fiftj^ feet high and about four and a half feet thick. 

* This chamber was used by the Assembly in 1859, ^"^ °" ^he completion 
of the west wing, that body removed to it, leaving the east room for the 
use of the Senate. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 261 

By an act of the legislature, approved March 6, 1857, the 
State Hospital for the Insane was established, and L. J. Far- 
well, John P. McGregok and Levi Sterling were appointed 
by the Governor as commissioners. The commissioners, at 
their first meeting, on the 5th of May, elected L. J. Farwell, 
President; J. P. McGregor, Secretary; and Levi Sterling, 
Building Superintendent, and employed S. V. Shipman as 
architect. After the adoption of plans, specifications and 
detail draAvings, notice was published in every city in the State, 
that proposals would be received until September 1st, A. D. 
1857, for doing all the work and furnishing all the materials in 
accordance with the plan and specifications. 

On the first of September, the bids were opened and the 
contract awarded to Nelson McNiel of Portage City, for 
building the central or main building, one longitudinal and 
one traverse wing for the sum of '$73,500. 

Mr. McNiEL, after making some progress on the work, 
finally failed entirely, and threw up his contract, which caused 
much delay in the completion of the building; and it was not 
until some time in 1860, that it was turned over to the Board 
of Trustees for the reception of patients. 

The following is a synopsis of the plan of the buildings, as 
drawn by the architect. Col. S. V. Shipmain': The structure to 
consist of the centre or main building, with two longitudinal 
and two traverse wings — the main building to be sixty-five by 
one hundred and twenty-seven feet; the longitudinal, each forty- 
one by ninety-two feet, and the traverse Avings forty by eighty- 
six feet; the main building and traverse buildings are to be 
four stories high — cellar eight feet, first story twelve feet. 
The second, of the main building, fifteen feet; the third story, 
thirteen feet; and the fourth story, eleven feet. The first, 
second and third stories of the wing, will be twelve feet each — • 
the walls of the fourth, or attic story, will be ten feet. The 
main building and each of the traverse wings are to be sur- 
mounted by a cupola; that of the main building being fifty 
feet, and of each wing, twenty-seven feet above the roof. 

Capitol Hook and Ladder Compaii}', No. 1, was organized 



262 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

in October. Officers: Wm. Wallace, Foreman; Geo. B. Mc- 
GiE, Assistant Foreman; J. H. McAvoy, Treasurer; Manning 
Tredavay, Secretary. It has sixty members. 

Mendota Fire Engine Company, No. 1, was organized July, 
1857, and has over fifty members. Officers: W. Babcock, 
Foreman; Chas. Billings and Thos. Tho:mas, Assistants; J. C. 
RuDD, Treasurer, Wm. H. Holt, Secretary; C. C. Mears, 
Steward. 

Madison Engine Company, No. 2, was organized soon after. 
Officers: Geo. Memhard, Captain; J. Wisler and F. Dingle- 
man, Assistants; Ricii'd Baus, Secretary; Fred. Sauthoff, 
Treasurer; and M. Henrichs, Steward. The company consists 
of sixty-one members. 

The year 1857, will be remembered by many as a disastrous 
one, in a financial point of view. Early in the fall, what is 
known as a " monetary panic," came over the country, and 
the western states felt it severely — Wisconsin as a state, as 
Madison as a city. A number of merchants were obliged to 
yield to the pressure and scarcity of money, and close up their 
places of business. The private improvements of the city were 
much affected. 

During the sessions of the Legislature of 1858, an effort 
was made to remove the capital to the city of Milwaukee. A bill 
was introduced into the Assembly, and on its being read a third 
time, there was a tie vote. Hon. J. H. Knowlton, who had 
opposed the bill, changed his vote for the removal, which car- 
ried the bill. He then moved to reconsider the vote and to lay 
that motion upon the table, which was adopted, thus virtually 
killing the bill for the session. 

At the city election held March 1, Hon. Geo. B. Smith re- 
ceived 978 votes and Neely Gray 600 votes — the former was 
elected, and also the following aldermen: Albert Sherwin and 
Simon Seckels, First ward; Eri S. Oakley and James Jack, 
Second ward; Darwin Clark and C. Henrichs, Third ward; 
and Cassius Fairchild and P. L. Dowling, Fourth ward; D. 
H. Wright, J. W. Hunt, H. L. Foster and P. D. Barry, Ward 
Justices; J. K. Proudfit, Treasurer, and A. B. Braley, Police 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 263^ 

Justice. The City Council elected Henry Wright, Clerk; H^ 
K. Edgertox, Assessor; S. Mills, Street Commissioner. 

On the 4th of July, the usual anniversary exercises were held. 
Hon. E. Brigham, President; the Vice Presidents selected froirt 
various towns; Wm. R. Smith, Reader; Hon. H. S. Ortok, Ora^ 
tor; Rev. N. H. Eggleston, Chaplain, and W. T. Leitcii, Mar- 
shal. 

On the 22d of February, the City Hall was opened for the 
first time in the evening, and illuminated by gas. The Hall 
is a spacious room, fifty feet wide by one hundred feet deep, 
and twenty-four feet from the floor to the ceiling. Exclusive 
of the gallery and rostrum, it is forty-six feet b}^ seventy-eight- 
feet; lighted with fourteen large windows, containing over four 
hundred lights of glass, and in the evening, by one hundred 
and fifty gas burners, extending around the room just below 
the cornice, and two large chandeliers and a number of smaller 
ones. The whole number of burners in the entire edifice is 
three hundred and fifty. 

On the 18th of February, a meeting was held to organize 
the ''Governor's Guards," and the following persons wei'e 
elected: Julius P. Atwood, Captain; F. D. Fuller, 1st Lieut.; 
Chas. L. Harris 2d, and S. H. Donnell 3d; Geo. E.Brya:nt, 
1st Sergeant, H. Conley 2d, H. Meredith 3d, and Geoege 
Bacon 4th; V. W. Roth, 1st Corporal, E. T. Sprague 2d, E^ 
B. Craw^ford 3d, Ira W. Bird 4th, and J. K. Proudfit, En- 
sign; J. P. Atavood, President, with E. W. Keyes and G. T. 
Wakeley, Directors; W. S. Maix, Treasurer, and J. K. Prold- 
FiT, Secretary. A number of changes were made in the officers 
during the year. 

On the 25th of Februar}^, another militar}^ company was or- 
ganized, called the " Madison Guards," composed mainly of 
Irish citizens. The officers first elected were: Johx "VVillass^ 
Captain: Thos. Heeran", Matthew Smith, Lieutenants, and 
J. R. Hyland, Sergeant. 

On the 12th of July, a meeting was held at the Court House, 
to organize a cavalry company, at which meeting A. Bishop 
was Chairman, and D. S. Curtis, Secretary, to be known as- 



264 HISTORY OF 3£ADIS0N Al^D THE 

the *'Dane County Dragoons;" the name was subsequently 
changed to '' Dane Cavalry." The following were the first elec- 
tive officers: H. S. Orton^, Captain; H. C. Bull, A. A. McDon- 
KTELL and W. D. Bird, Lieutenants; S. H. Carman, J. E. Mann, 
J. W. Hunt and Timothy Brown, Sergeants; A. Bishop, W. 
Vroman, J. RoDERMUND and B. F. Nott, Corporals; A. Bishop, 
Adjutant, J. C. Squires, Commissary; N. W. Dean, Quarter- 
master; J. Alden Ellis, Paymaster; J. W. Hunt, Surgeon. 
At a subsequent meeting, held September 18, a number of 
changes were made in the officers. 

Rev. N. H. Eggleston, who had been invited to be pastor of 
the Congregational church in 1855, resigned on the 8th of May 
1858, and in November of this year, Rev. Jas. Caldwell was 
called to supply the pulpit; but after remaining nearly a year, 
lie returned to Illinois, when the pulpit was supplied by Prof. 
J. D. Butler, of the State University. 

From the report of the Superintendent of Schools, it appears 
that there were 931 persons between the ages of four and 
twenty, and the average number attending school during the 
jear, 521, divided into eleven schools. 

The German Lutheran church this year erected a frame 
building for their house of worship, on block 41, on Main 
street, toward the depot of the Milwaukee Railroad. In 1868, 
as will hereafter appear, the society erected their new building 
on Washington avenue. 

In the month of February, 1859, Hasbrouck & GuR- 
.3!fEE commenced the erection of a three story stone building on 
Wisconsin Avenue, near Main street. The building was 
twenty-five by fift}^ feet, and was occupied by the proprietors 
^s a land office and banking house, the third story was occupied 
hy S. V. Shipman, architect. The building cost about ^5,500. 
Mr. Samuel R. Fox built an elegant stone dwelling house on 
the corner of Gilman and Carroll streets; it was subsequently 
sold to and is now the residence of N. B. Van" Slyke, Esq. 
During the year, Julius T- Clark built a large brick dwelling 
liouse, on his grounds on block No. 91. The premises were 
subsequently sold to John" N. Jon'es, Esq., who makes it his 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 265 

residence. The grounds are regarded as the most beautiful in 
the city. J. H. Carpenter, Esq., erected a brick dwelling on 
Wisconsin avenue, west of the Presbyterian church. 

On the 8th of January, a meeting was called of all persons 
favorable to the formation of a religious society under the 
charge of Rev. N. H. Egglestoi^, to meet at Porter's Hall, to 
adopt such measures as were necessary for a permanent and 
successful organization. The call was signed by Darwin- 
Clark, J. B. BowEN, D. Atwood, S. D. Hastings, A. Sher- 

WIN, GrEO. CaPRON, D. J. PoWERS, 0. CoLE, JaS. MoRRISON, E. 

W. Skinner and H. M. Lewis. Mr. Eggleston was engaged, 
and commenced his labors January 15, at the Baptist church. 
On the 12th of July, the church was formally organized under 
the name of the "Union Congregational Church and Society 
of Madison," and a Council of Recognition, composed of min- 
isters and delegates from other Congregational churches, was 
invited to meet on the 14th, at which time Rev. Dr. Smith, of 
Xane Seminary, was invited to preach in the morning, and in 
the evening the installation services were held — the sermon 
l)eing preached by Prof. Fisk, of Illinois. 

The city election, this year, was held March 7, Frank A. 
Haskell and Geo. B. Smith being the candidates for the office 
of Mayor. The former received 397 votes, and the latter 961, 
and was elected. For City Treasurer, F. W. Lindhorst re- 
ceived 532 votes, and Andrew Sexton, 803; the latter was 
elected, and also the following aldermen: First Ward, J. Zeph- 
ENNiNG and Wm. Dudley; Second Ward, Jos. Baier and Wm. 
Hawley; Third Ward, F. C. Festner and Ezra Squires; 
Fourth Ward, J. A. Byrne and Jos. Hobbins. 

The assessed valuation of property was, real estate, $2,027,- 
466, and personal property, $264,195; total, $2,391,661. 

The celebration of July 4 was observed with more than or- 
dinary enthusiasm. The officers of the day were, W. W. 
Tredway, Marshal; A. A. McDonnel, E. B. Dean and F. 
Briggs, Assistants; J. C. Fairchild, President; J. B. Brit- 
tan, Chaplain; J. R. Baltzell, Reader; and Hon. A. McAr- 
thur, Orator. The "Governor's Guards," Capt. Delaplaine 
18 



266 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

the " Madison Guards," Capt. Byene, and the " Dane County 
Cavalry," Capt. Orto:?^, were in the procession; the engine 
companies and Hook and Ladder Company also participated. 
In the afternoon, a regatta was held on Lake Mendota, under 
the management of C. G. Mayers. One of the features of the 
celebration in the morning was a Ragamuffin Cavalcade, which 
attracted much attention. 

Henry Barj^^ard, LL.D., of Connecticut, who had been 
elected Chancellor of the University in 1858, entered upon his 
duties in the month of May, 1859, and on the 27th of July 
was formally inducted into the office. From the report of the 
Board of Regents, it appears that the whole number of stu- 
dents in attendance in the several departments was one hun- 
dred and fifty-nine. 

Chancellor Baris'Ard resigned his position in June, 1860. 
The Board, however, did not accept of the same until January, 
1861. The University was without a Chancellor until June 16, 
when J. L. Pickard, LL.D., was elected. He, however, did not 
accept. During all this period, the internal administration was; 
conducted by Prof. J. VV. Sterlin^g, who was made Dean of 
the Faculty in June, 1860, and continued in that capacity till 
June, 1865, when he was elected Vice Chancellor. 

Thos. W. Sutherland, Esq., an early settler, died at Sacra- 
mento, Cal., Feb. 2, 1859. He was the eldest son of Hon. Joel. 
B. Sutherland, of Philadelphia. In 1835, he first came to 
Indiana with Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, Commissioner of Patents, 
as a clerk of a commission to settle some Indian matters. He 
then crossed the country to St. Louis, thence up the Missouri 
to Council Bluffs, from which place, with a pony, he trav- 
ersed the then savage wilderness to the upper waters of the 
Mississippi, at or near the St. Anthony; from thence he pro- 
cured a skiff, and floated down the river to the mouth of Rock 
river, and paddled his skiff up that stream to the mouth of the 
Catfish; up the Catfish, through the chain of lakes, to the- 
point upon which the city of Madison now stands, then only 
inhabited by Indians. Here he spent some time in an Indian 
camp on the east side of Lake Monona, opposite the Capitol, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 267 

and this he then resolved upon as his future home. After a 
short visit to Philadelphia, he returned, and, as soon as the 
lands came into market, made considerable purchases in this 
neighborhood, and settled at Madison very soon after it was 
fixed upon as the capital of the Territory, and was elected the 
first President of the incorporated village. 

In 1841, he was appointed United States District Attorney 
for the Territory, which office he held four years. He was 
appointed to the same office by Mr. Polk, in 1848. In the 
spring of 1819, he took the overland route to California, through 
the valley of the Gila, and landed at San Diego. He subse- 
quently removed to San Francisco, where he practised law with 
success until he was appointed to the office of Collector of the 
Port of Sacramento by Mr. Buchanan. 

Mr. Sutherland died of congestion of the lungs, leaving a 
wife and one child. 

In his private relations, he was a noble, generous hearted 
man, highly esteemed by every one, and will long be remem- 
bered by the early settlers of Madison. 

The city election of 1860 was held April 3. Hon. Geo. B. 
Smith"*" received 721 votes for Mayor, and Dayid Atwood, 718; 
the former was elected by six majority. The following Alder- 
men were also elected: Peter Hv Turner and Farrel O'Brien, 
1st ward; D. K. Tenney and J. W. Sumner, 2d ward; Darwin 
Clark and Kyron Tierney, 3d ward; Timothy Kinney and 
John Y. Smith, 1th ward; A. B-. Braley was elected Police 
Justice; J. C. Schette, Treasurer; and P. Nieumann, J. AY. 

*Hon. Geo. B. Smith, son of Judge Reuben Smith, was born at Pai-ma 
Corners, a village in the town of Parma, Monroe county, N. Y., May 
22, 1823. When a child, he removed with his parents to Ohio, and re- 
sided at Cleveland, where he studied law, and also at Medina. In 
April, 1843, ^^ removed to Wisconsin, and after a year's residence at 
Kenosha, removed to Madison, where he still makes his residence. He 
was District Attornej' of Dane county from 1845 to 1851, excepting two 
years; a member of the first Constitutional Convention, 1846; State Attor- 
ney General, 1854, 1855; member of Assembly, 1859, 1864, 1869; Mayor 
of city of Madison, 1858, 1859, i860. 



268 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

Mayhew, H. L. Foster and H. W. Remington, Justices of 
the Peace. 

The Bank of Madison was organized April 17, with a capital 
of S25,000, Simeon Mills, President, J. L. Hill, Cashier, and 
opened as a temporary place of business, the rooms formerly 
occupied by the Bank of the Capital. 

The celebration of July dth was in one sense a county celebra- 
tion. The officers of the day were Hon. L. B. Yilas, President, 
one Vice President from each township; E. B. Dean, Jr., Mar- 
shal; Rev. A. McWright, Chaplain; Frank A. Haskell, Reader, 
and Prof. J. D. Butler, Orator. Among other incidents, was 
the visit of the venerable Nathaniel Ames, a soldier of the 
Revolution, who was in his one hundredth year. He came 
from Oregon, accompanied by some forty teams, filled with 
farmers and their families, to celebrate the day. Mr. Ames was 
two and a half years in the army, and was present at the execu- 
tion of Andre. The military and fire companies were in the 
procession. The printers had a small press on wheels, and 
were engaged in printing and distributing handbills to the 
crowd. In the afternoon, " Ye Ancient and Horrible Artillery," 
in masquerade costume, had a parade which was greatly enjoyed 
by the visitors. 

On the 12th of September, Hon. William H. Sewaed and 
Hon. Charles Francis Adams visited Madison, and were en- 
tertained by the citizens. These gentlemen delivered addresses 
from the balcony of the Vilas House, and also from the eastern 
steps of the Capitol. A large attendance of persons from the 
country was present. 

Dunning, Jones & Co. commenced building their drug store 
on Pinckney street, in May, which was opened July 2. It is a 
fine, three story building, of cut stone, with large show win- 
dows, iron columns, etc. During the season, S. Klauber &Co. 
commenced building a block of three stores, on the same street, 
near the corner of Main street, 67i feet front by 100 feet in 
depth, three stories, stone fronts, which was a fine improvement. 
The school census of 1860 shows that there were 2,240 per- 
sons in the city between the ages of four and twenty years. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 269 

In the latter part of A. D. 1860, it became apparent to the 
Board of Education, that on account of the lack of means to 
sustain the schools at that time in successful operation, some 
one or more of them must be permanently discontinued, and, 
perhaps, all of them be suspended for a part of the coming 
year. After a careful examination of the facts in the case, it 
was finally deemed expedient to discontinue indefinitely, the 
High School; consequently, at the close of the first school term 
of 1861, the High School ceased to exist. In order to com- 
pensate, as far as possible, for this loss of educational facilities 
to the city, an arrangement was entered into with Miss L. L. 
CouES, wherein she engaged, after the close of the first term of 
the High School in 1861, " to carry it on as a school of the 
same grade as before, without expense to the Board, and under 
their supervision, provided she could have the use of the build- 
ing, furniture and apparatus, for one year, with the privilege 
of two." This arrangement was afterwards so far modified as 
to permit her to open her school, the first term, for the admis- 
sion of females only. In accordance with this arrangement, 
Miss CouES opened and continued, through the remainder of 
the year, a female High School, afi'ording facilities for those 
citizens who wished their daughters to pursue a course of study 
in the higher branches of female education, to secure these ad- 
vantages at the trifling expense of the mere tuition fees, these 
fees being paid, not by the Board, but by those who enjoyed 
the advantages of the school. The Board were satisfied that 
this, though not what could have been desired, was still the 
best arrangement for the interests of education in the city, that, 
under the circumstances of the case, could have been made. 

In addition to the indefinite discontinuance of the High 
School, the Board found itself reluctantly compelled to sus- 
pend all the other schools of the city during the summer term. 
This the Board deemed a serious loss to the children of the city. 
but a loss necessitated by its restricted finances. 

The Legislature of 1861 having passed an " act to create the 
offices of county superintendent of schools," the Board, in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of that act, adopted, on the loth 
of August, the following resolution : 



270 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

" Resolved^ That the Board of Education of the city of Madi- 
son do hereby elect that said city shall, for the next ensuing 
year, be exempt from the provisions of chapter one hundred 
and seventy-nine of the General Laws of 1861, being an act to 
create the office of county superintendent of schools, in accord- 
ance with section eleven of said act." 

A copy of the resolution was filed in the office of the Clerk 
of the Board of County Supervisors. 

By this action, the Board of Education retained the manage- 
ment of the schools of the city entirely in their own hands, 
and relieved the city from the burden of aiding in the support 
of the county superintendent of schools. 

The number of scholars that attended the city schools during 
the spring and fall terms, was not quite 650. The amount of 
money expended during the year, for sustaining the schools 
under the care of the Board, was $3,460.35. 

James Morrison, one of the early settlers of Madison, died 
December 23, 1860, aged 61 years. He was born in Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, September 30, 1799. His father, Wm. Morrison, was 
a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and his mother was a 
French lady. In early life, Col. Morrison was engaged with 
his father in the Rocky Mountain fur trade. He removed to 
Wisconsin in 1827, and his first business was a lead miner and 
smelter at Porter's Grove, near Dodgeville. He came to Mad- 
ison in the spring of 1838, when he immediately engaged in 
business — was contractor for building the Capitol; in 1838, 
erected the American House, and was long a prominent citizen 
of Madison. He did not move his family here till near the close 
of 1839. He was Territorial Treasurer under Gov. Doty's and 
Tallmadge's administrations, from 1811 to 1845. He was the 
owner of a large landed property, in Wisconsin, Illinois and St. 
Louis. He left a widow, who died at the residence of her grand- 
daughter in California, August 28, 1866, aged Q^ years, and 
three daughters — one the estimable lady of Hon. N. W. Dean", 
of Madison. The funeral took place December 26; Hon. O. 
Cole, Hon. L. B. Vilas, Hon. T. T. Whittlesey, Col. G. H. 
Slaughter, Hon. M. M. Jackson and E. M. Williamson, Esq., 
pall bearers. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 271 

The central building of the University of Wisconsin was 
completed this year. A description of the building has been 
^iven in the record of improvements of the year 1857. 

In February 1861, the Congregational church vrhich had 
been without a settled minister since November, 1858, invited 
Rev. L. Taylor, of Bloomington, 111., to become its pastor. 
After a faithful and laborious [pastorate of three years, he re- 
signed in January, 1861, and removed to Farmington, Illinois. 
Previous to Mr. Taylor's coming, the pulpit had been supplied 
by Prof. J. D. Butler of the State University. 

The city election was held on the 2d of April. Hon. Levi 
B. Vilas * was the only candidate for the office of Mayor, and 
received 967 votes with 195 scattering. F. C. Festner was 
elected Treasurer, and the following aldermen: 1st ward, Geo. 
E. Bryant and P. H. Turner; 2d ward, D. K. Tenney and J. 

* Hon. Levi B. Vilas was born in Sterling, Lamoille county, Vermont, 
February 25, 181 1; received an academic education and pursued a partial 
collegiate course, but was prevented by ill health from graduating ; is by 
profession a lawyer, having been admitted to the bar in St. Albans, Ver- 
mont, in 1833, ^^t ^^s retired from practice. During his residence in Ver- 
mont, he was the first postmaster at Morrisville in 1834. 1"^^ same year, 
he removed to Johnson ; was elected to the State Constitutional Convention 
from that place, in 1835, and represented the town in the legislature of 
1836 and 1837, and was elected by it in 1836, one of the State commis- 
sioners of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind; during the same period, he held the 
office of Register of Probate; removed to Chelsea in i83S, and represented 
that town in the legislature in 1840-1843, and was the democratic candidate 
for speaker for the same years; was the democratic candidate for congress 
in 1844; the next year was elected State Senator from Orange county, and 
reelected in 1846; he held the office of Judge of Probate for three years in 
Orange county; and was supported by his party for United States Senator 
in 1848; was member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1850 from 
Chelsea. He came to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled at Madison; repre- 
sented the Madison district in the Assembly in the years 1855 and 1868, 
and was Mayor of the city from April, 1861, to April, 1862; was appointed 
by Gov. Salomon and served as Draft Commissioner in the war for the 
Union in 1862; Avas a Regent of the State University for twelve years pre- 
vious to its reorganization ; was the democratic candidate for Secretary 
of State in 1865, and was a member of the Assembly in 1873, and candi- 
date for Speaker. 



272 HISTORY OF MADISON AISD THE 

A. Ellis; 3d ward, K. Tierney and J. G. Ott; 4th ward, G. 

B. Seekels and J. Y. Smith. 

All act was passed, approved April 11, 1861, during the last 
session of the legislature, appropriating forty thousand dollars 
for the enlargement of the State Hospital for the Insane. 
That act authorizes the Board of Trustees, or such committee- 
as might be designated by them, to construct a longitudinal 
and traverse wing, to be located on the west side of the centre 
building, corresponding in dimensions with the wings on the 
east side of said centre building. In pursuance of a require- 
ment of said act, the executive committee advertised for sealed 
proposals for furnishing materals and doing said work; and at- 
the time designated in such advertisement, the several propo- 
sals were laid before the Board, to be examined and their re- 
respective merits determined. After all of such proposals had 
been considered in reference to the price proposed and the gen- 
eral interests of the institution, it was unanimously agreed and 
ordered that the mason work and furnishing the materials 
therefor, should be let to Joseph Parkins of the county of 
Dane, for the sum of twenty thousand and five hundred dollars, 
and that the carpenter work and painting and glazing, with 
material therefor, should be let to Bradley and Norton of the 
city of Racine, for the sum of nine thousand four hundred and 
fifty dollars. 

In accordance with the said order, contracts were entered 
into between the executive committee and the aforementioned 
parties, on the 6th day of June, 1861; and the requisite bonds 
to secure the completion of the contract and the faithful per- 
formance ot the work, were duly made and deposited by the: 
several contractors. 

The heating apparatus, gas pipes and fixtures, registers, 
window guards and sewerage, are not included in either of the 
above mentioned contracts, as it was deemed advisable to have 
that work performed by the State, under the direction of the 
Board, by purchasing the materials and having them fitted by 
persons in their employ. The Board of Trustees, in their annual 
report for 1861, speak of the commendable zeal of the contract- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCOXSIN. 273- 

ors ill the prosecution of the work, which was commenced on 
the first of June of that year, and which was so far advanced as 
to be roofed and enclosed before the winter set in. 

The Board also report the whole number of patients received 
into the hospital since it was opened in July, 1860 to October 
1, 1861, one hundred and forty-five. 

It will be necessary, at this point of our history, to give an 
account of the momentous events which were close at hand, 
and in which ' iison, as the seat of government, took an 
important part. It is not necessary to recount the causes, 
running through a long term of years, which led to the insur- 
rection of the people of a portion of the states of the union, 
against the general government, and arrayed more than a 
million of citizens in arms — a most bloody war, of four years' 
duration, involving the expenditure of almost untold treasure, 
and the loss, on either side, of hundreds of thousands of the 
country's bravest and best men. While all these important 
events were transpiring, the people of Madison and county of 
Dane had their share of them. Their coffers were opened, 
their young men were sent forth, some of them to lay their 
lives upon the altar of their country, others to return maimed 
for life, and others to return at the end of the conflict, weary 
and worn, crowned with victorious wreaths. 

As is well known, the state of South Carolina passed an 
ordinance of secession from the general government, on the 
12th of April, and commenced open hostilities by firing from 
James' Island upon Fort Sumter, garrisoned by Major RoBERr 
Anderson and about seventy men. The Fort was surrendered 
on the 14th of April. On the day succeeding (15th) President 
Lincoln issued his proclamation declaring the southern states 
in insurrection, and issued a call for 75,000 three months' 
volunteers, to aid in suppressing the rebellion. In Wisconsin, 
as in all the other northern states, the public pulse quickened 
under the excitement, and on every hand the national flag 
was displayed, public enthusiasm knew no bounds, and in city^. 
town and hamlet, the burden on every tongue was for a vigor-- 
ous prosecution of the war. 



274 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

On the 15th of April, an informal meeting was held at the 
.Governor's office, to consider events, Judge 0. Cole in the 
chair, who made a speech full of patriotism and the noblest 
sentiments. On the day following, Gov. Rai^dall notified 
€apt. Geo. E. Bryant that the services of the Madison Guards 
had been accepted, and he was authorized to fill up his com- 
pany; and on the same day the Governor issued a proclama- 
tion for the organization of the First Regiment of Wisconsin 
Volunteers. The enrolment of men for the Madison Guards 
began April 3 7th; among others were G. E. Bryant, Chas. E. 
Wood, 0. L. Harris, L. D. Aldrich, L. Fairchild, D. C. 
Poole, J. K. Proudfit, J. F. Randolph, E. A. Tappan and 
W. H. Plunkett. Twenty-eight names were enrolled on the 
17th, which number was, on the 20th, increased to one hundred 
^nd eighteen. 

On the 17th, the Governor's Guards, by Judge J. P. Atwood, 
waited on Gov. Randall and tendered their services, which 
were accepted on the 18th. The company had seventy-three 
names enrolled. 

On the evening of the 18th, a large and enthusiastic meeting 
was held at the Assembly Room in the State Capitol, at which 
Hon. H. S. Orton presided. A committee consisting of J. N. 
Jones, L. B. Vilas, W. F. Porter, S. Klauber and Neely 
Gray was appointed to receive from the citizens of Madison 
subscriptions for the support of families as shall need aid. At 
this meeting 17,490 was voluntarily subscribed. 

On the 20th of April, the Governor commissioned J. F. Ran- 
dolph, late Orderly Sergeant of the Governor's Guards, as 
First Lieutenant, to raise a new company for the Second, 
ov reserve regiment, and on the 22d he reported his company 
full. 

On the 24th of April, the two Madison companies left for 
camp at Milwaukee, escorted to the depot by the Fire Depart- 
ment and the Turners' Association. 

In the organization of the First Regiment, the Madison 
Guards were known as Company E, and the Governor's Guards 
as Company K, and of the Field Staff officers, Chas. L. Harris, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 275 

Lieutenant Colonel; Harry Bingham, Assistant Quarter- 
master; L. J. Dixon, Assistant Surgeon, and Chas. Fairchild, 
Assistant Commissary, were of Madison. 

The officers of Company E were, Geo. E. Bryant, Captain; 
Wm. H. Plunkett and Wm.H. Miller, Lieutenants; and Com- 
pany K, Lucius Fairchild, Captain; DeWitt C. Poole and 
Jas. K. Proudfit, Lieutenants. 

On the 22d of April, a company known as the '' Hickory 
Guards" was organized for perfecting themselves in military 
tactics. Of this Company L. S. Dixoi^, Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Court, Avas Captain. 

Randall Guards was fully organized April 27th, with J. F. 
Randolph, as Captain, and A. A. Meredith and Nat. Rol- 
xis, as Lieutenants. The company was known as Company H 
of the Second Wisconsin Regiment. 

The two Madison companies with the other companies com- 
prising the First Regiment, rendezvoused at Milwaukee on 
Saturday, April 2Tth, of which regiment Capt, J. C. Stark- 
weather of Milwaukee, had been commissioned Colonel ; Chas. 
L. Harris of Madison, Lieutenant Colonel; David H. Lane of 
Kenosha, as Major, and Alfred R. Chapik of Milwaukee, as 
Adjutant. 

The organization of the regiment was completed and mus- 
tered into the United States service on the ITth of May, and 
the War Department informed that it awaited marching 
orders. The troops remained in camp until the 9th of June, 
when, in obedience to orders from the Secretary of War, it left 
the State for Harrisburg, Pensylvania, fully equipped by the 
State, with the exception of arms. 

Of the further history of the Regiment, under the first call, 
it is only necessary to state, that it was assigned to Maj. Gen. Pat- 
terson's Division, July 2d; led the advance on Martinsburg, par- 
ticipated in the battle of Falling Waters, in which battle Color 
Bearer, Fred. B. Huchting, of Company E, Madison, was the 
first man wounded, and Sol. Wise of Company K, also of 
Madison, was taken prisoner, and won a reputation for bravery 
and veteran-like conduct excelled by no other regiment. 



276 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

After serving out the time for which it was enlisted, the regi- 
ment returned to Camp Scott, and was mustered out of service 
August 22, 1861. A portion of the Madison companies, about 
eighty-five men, arrived here August 23d, and after an ample 
dinner at the Railroad House, formed a line, and a pro- 
cession of the Young American Cornet Band, the Governor's 
Guards, Fire Companies and the Turners' Society, and accom- 
panied by the State field piece, marched to the front of the 
State Capitol, where a welcome address was delivered by 
Gov. Randall, after which the company dispersed. The 
remainder of the companies were left at Milwaukee and 
returned home at their convenience. 

The Governor having determined to organize more regiments 
as a reserve for future calls, accepted the proposition of the 
State Agricultural Society, tendering the use of their fair 
grounds at Madison as one of the camps. These grounds were 
already enclosed with a high board fence, with several buildings 
which might be fitted up for use until more substantial ones 
could be built. Carpenters and laborers were set at work on 
the 27th of April, under the direction of Maj . H. A. Tenney, 
WiLLiAai W. Tkedway, of Madison, was commissioned Quar- 
termaster General, and at once proceeded, in behalf of the 
State, to procure clothing, camp and garrison equipage for the 
Second Regiment, and for the six infantry regiments sub- 
sequently raised under the proclamation of the President. 
Simeon Mills, of Madison, was about the same time commis- 
sioned Paymaster General, and paid the several regiments from 
date of enlistment up to the time of their departure for the 
field. The Second Regiment was ordered to move into camp 
at Madison, on the 1st of May, which was, by Col. S. Park 
CooN, named Camp Randall, in honor of the Governor. This 
regiment was first organized for three months' service, but, on. 
the 7th of May, orders were received to recruit the regiment 
for three years or the war, and the Governor, wishing to 
gratify the enthusiastic desires of the companies who had ten- 
dered their services, proceeded also to organize the Third and 
Fourth Regiments. During this time, the ladies of this city 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 277 

performed a large amount of labor, done at a time when great 
suffering would have occurred if their timely assistance had 
not been rendered. The ladies of other cities and villages were 
also diligently engaged in the same benevolent work. 

The Second Regiment left the State on the 20th of June, 
and proceeded to Harrisburg, Pa., one company of which was 
enlisted at Madison, the " Randall Guards," known as Company 
H, of which J. F. Randolph was Captain, A. A. Meredith, 
First Lieutenant, and Nat. Rollins, Second Lieutenant. 

This regiment was called upon to suffer much of privation 
and hardship. They were in the "Onward to Richmond" 
movement, participated in the skirmish at Bull Run, July 19, 
took an active part in the memorable battle of July 21, and 
won a high reputation for bravery and soldier-like conduct. 
They were the last to leave the field at the disgraceful finish, 
and their thinned ranks at roll call the next morning, proved 
the part they acted. As an evidence of what the Second Regi- 
ment had been through, it is sufiicient to state that it left the 
State June 20, over one thousand strong, and, October 1, re- 
ported for duty six hundred and eighty-nine. 

Of the " Randall Guards " (Company H), in these engage- 
ments, we find the following record: Julius F. Randolph,* 
Captain, wounded July 21, 1861; A. A. Meredith, First Lieu- 
tenant, wounded, and arm disabled; G. M. Humphrey, First 
Sergeant, wounded; Theodore D. Bahn, Fourth Sergeant, 
wounded; S. M. Bond, Fifth Sergeant, wounded; Peter Mor- 
rison, Corporal, wounded; G. A. Beck, private, wounded and 
taken prisoner; F. M. Buten, private, wounded; Thos. Can- 
ning, private, wounded; Thos. Murphy, private, wounded; E. 
L. Reed, private, taken prisoner; E. R. Reed, private, wounded; 
Henry Storm, private, wounded; J. M. Zook, private, wounded. 

After this battle, a number of changes took place in the 
officers of the regiment; of these, Lucius Fairchild, formerly 
Captain of Company K of the First Regiment of three months 
volunteers, was appointed Lieutenant Colonel; J. D. Ruggles, 
Quartermaster, and A. J. Ward, Surgeon, all of this place. 

* Capt. Randolph was killed at the battle of Gainsville, August 20, 1862, 



278 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The Third Regiment, Chas. S. Hamilton, Colonel, was or- 
dered into camp at Fond du Lac, and left for Harrisburg, July 
12. Of this regiment, the only company from this section was- 
the " Dane County Guards " (Company K), of which William 
HAWLEYwas Captain; Theo. S. Widvey, First Lieutenant, and 
Warham Parks, Second Lieutenant. 

The Fourth Regiment encamped at Racine, June 6, Halbert 
E. Paine, Colonel, in which Madison and Dane county were 
not represented by a company. L. D. Aldrich, of this place, 
was appointed Adjutant. 

The Fifth Regiment was called to Camp Randall, June 21^ 
Amasa Cobb, Colonel. Madison was not represented in this 
Regiment. 

The Sixth Regiment was called to Camp Randall, June 25, 
Lysander Cutler, Colonel. Of the commissioned officers, 
the following were from Madison: J. P. Atwood, Lieutenant 
Colonel; Frank A. Haskell, Adjutant; C. B. Chapman, Sur- 
geon. Col. Atwood resigned on account of ill health, Septem- 
ber 21. There were no companies from Madison. 

The Seventh Regiment came to Camp Randall in the month 
of August, and its organization completed September 2, Joseph 
Vai^ Dor, Colonel- Of this regiment, from Madison were 
Chas. W. Cook, Adjutant, and Eri^^est Kramer, Assistant Sur- 
geon. Dane countj^ was represented by a company called 
Stoughton Guards. 

The Eighth Regiment was organized September 4, Robert 
C. Murphy, Colonel, and was not called to Camp Randall until 
the 16th. The following commissioned officers were from Mad- 
ison: Geo. W. Robinso:n-, Lt. Colonel; Johj^ W. Jefferson", 
Major; Ezra T. Sprague, Adjutant, and Wm. Hobbins, Assist- 
ant Surgeon. There were no Madison companies. 

The Ninth Regiment was organized at Oamp Sigel, at Mil- 
waukee, and was recruited among the German population, 
Frederic Salomoist, Colonel, [and was mustered into the ser- 
vice October 26. In this regiment. Company F was composed 
of the Madison Sharp Shooters, of which company, Dominick 
Hastreiter was Captain, Martik Yoigle and Jofis" Gerber, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIK. 279 

were Lieutenants, as the first officers. Some changes were 
made before they left camp, and Martin" Voigle was Captain^ 
and A. P. Dcerschlag, First Lieutenant. 

The Tenth Regiment was organized at Camp Holton, Mil- 
waukee, and mustered into service October 14, Alfred R. 
Chapin, Colonel; Benton McConnel of Madison, was Quar- 
master, and was the only person holding an office. No com- 
panies were attached to the regiment from Madison. 

The Eleventh Regiment was organized September 18. Ife 
was intended at the outset to be a Dane county regiment, but 
it was soon ascertained that Dane county had already honored 
too many drafts upon her citizens, to be able to fill up the regi- 
ment, and it was found necessary to do this, in part, outside o£ 
the county. The Regiment was called into Camp Randall dur- 
ing the month of October, and placed under the command o£ 
Col. Chas. L. Harris of Madison, with the following field and 
staff officers: Chas. A. Wood, Lt. Colonel; Arthur Platt, 
Major; Daniel Lincoln, Adjutant; Chas. G. Mayers, Quar- 
termaster, and Jas. B. Brittan, Chaplain; H. P. Strong, Sur- 
geon; E. Everett and C. C. Barnes, Assistants. All of the* 
above, with the exception of the three last named, were from 
this place. Of the companies comprising the regiment, the 
following were made up of Dane county volunteers: Company' 
A, "Watson Guards," officered by D. E. Hough, Captain; P. 
W. Jones, and W. L. Freeman, Lieutenants. Company B, 
"Mendota Guards," J. H. Hubbard, Captain; E. S. OakleiT 
and Jas. M. Bull^ Lieutenants, and consisted of 101 men. Com- 
panies F and G, the '' Harvey Zouaves " and " Randall Zouaves," 
were made up from Dane and other counties; of Company F, 
E. R. Chase of Madison, was Captain. The regiment left for 
the seat of war November 20, 1861. 

The Twelfth Regiment was called to Camp Randall during' 
the month of October, under the charge of Col. George E^ 
Bryant, formerly Captain of Company E, of Madison Guards, 
First Regiment (three months); of the other staff and regi-' 
mental officers from Madison, were: De Witt C. Poole, Lt, 
Colonel; Andrew Sexton, Quartermaster; Jas. K. Proudfit, 



280 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Adjutant (formerly Second Lieutenant, Company K, Governor's 
Guards of First Regiment, three months), and Rev. L. B. Ma- 
son-, Chaplain. There was no Dane county company con- 
nected with the regiment. 

The Thirteenth Regiment was organized September IT, 1861, 
and volunteers were from the counties of Rock and Green — 
;Maueice Malony, Colonel. The regiment rendezvoused at 
Janesville. There were no officers or companies from Dane 
county attached to it. 

The Fourteenth Regiment was organized in November, and 
was rendezvoused at Camp Wood, Fond du Lac, David E. 
Wood, Colonel. There was no representation in this regiment 
from Dane county. 

The Fifteenth Regiment was organized in December, at Camp 
Randall, and was known as the Scandinavian Regiment, Han^s 
C. Heg, Colonel; Hans BoRcusENiusof Madison, was Adjutant. 

The Sixteenth Regiment was organized and ordered into 
camp at Madison early in November, Benj. Allen, Colonel. 
Of the field and staff officers from Madison were: Cassius 
Fairchild, Lt. Colonel; Thomas Reynolds, Major; Geo. Sabin, 
Adjutant. No Madison companies attached. 

The Seventeenth Regiment was not fully organized until 
1862, although a few of the field officers were appointed in 
October, 1861. Of this regiment John L. Dokan was Colonel; 
Wm. H. Plunkett of Madison, was Adjutant, but afterwards 
promoted to Major; Thos. Reynolds was Quartermaster, but 
December 10th was promoted Major of the Sixteenth Regiment. 
No Madison companies represented. 

The Eighteenth Regiment was organized the latter part of 
October, and was expected to occupy Camp Randall as soon as 
the Twelfth had commenced to move for the seat of war. Jas. 
S. Alban was appointed Colonel, and the remaining officers 
from the northeastern portion of the State, 

The Nineteenth Regiment was an " Independent," Regiment, 
the Colonel, Horace T. Sanders, received his appointment 
from the War Department. It rendezvoused at Racine, and 
April 20, 1862, was ordered to Camp Randall, to guard rebel 
prisoners. Madison not represented. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 281 

In addition to the above eighteen regiments of infantry or- 
ganized and sent into the field in 1861, there were three cav- 
alry companies organized. Of Company G, First Cavalry, 
Stephen V. Shipman was First Lieutenant, promoted to Cap- 
tain of Company E, in 1862; E. A. Calkins, Major, and John 
D. Welch, First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant of Com- 
pany L, Third Cavalry; and ten batteries of artillery. The 
officers named were from Madison. 

The next day after the mustering out of service of the First 
Regiment, its late Colonel, John C. Staekweather, was com- 
missioned as commanding officer of the " Three-years First Regi- 
ment." The enlistment went on rapidly, and the companies 
began to rendezvous at Camp Scott, Milwaukee. Of the field 
and staff" officers, Madison was represented by Harry Bing- 
ham, Quartermaster, and Dr. Lucius J. Dixon, Surgeon. The 
companies were organized in the counties of Milwaukee, Ke- 
nosha, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac and St. Croix. The regiment 
started for Louisville, Ky., October 28. 

Such, in brief, is an account of the organization of the first 
eighteen regiments that were formed in this State during the 
year 1861. It will be seen that a large number of the regi- 
ments were officered in part by Madison and Dane county men, 
and the companies of volunteers will show that this county 
did her whole duty in furnishing her quota for active service. 

There was one Edwin" L. Reed, Company H, Second 
Wisconsin Regiment, son of L. T. Reed of Stoughton, Dane 
county, who was sick and in the General Hospital in Wash- 
ington. Hearing that a forward movement was about to be 
made, he left the hospital and returned to the company, where, 
on account of his feeble condition, he was ordered into the 
Regimental Hospital. But when, at last, the regiment was 
formed and in line to move forward, he was found in the ranks, 
fully equipped, and determined to go. The captain expostu- 
lated, but without eJBFect. The " double quick " at Blackburn's 
Ford, Thursday, July 18th, was too much for him, and in spite 
of his earnest protests he was ordered into the Field Hospital 
at Centerville, where he remained until after the fight on Sun- 
19 



282 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

day. At four o'clock, Monday morning, July 22d, discovering' 
the Union forces had all gone, he awoke a wounded friend,, 
and together they started on the retreat. His progress was^ 
impeded by his wounded friend, and at Fairfax, they were both; 
overtaken by the enemy, and were "furnished transportation" 
to Richmond. After intense suffering, Mr. Reed died October- 
23, 1861, in Libby Prison. 

Capt. J. F. Rai^dolph was also sick and in hospital, and" 
had been for some time, but when the forward movement 
was made, he came forward and resumed command of the com- 
pany, and remained in command until he was wounded, July 
21, 1861. 

The history of the war, for the year 1862, will be continued 
in the next chapter. 

The National Anniversary was celebrated this year with 
more than usual interest. The procession was formed of five- 
divisions, the whole under direction of Wm. T. Leitch, Grand 
Marshal. The first division was composed of the Dane Cavalry, 
under charge of Lieut. Timothy Beown, the governor and 
State officers, soldiers of the war of 1812, with the venerable 
Nathakiel Ames, the only revolutionary soldier living in the 
state, born April 25, 1761, and who was consequently over one 
hundred years of age; a triumphal car of thirty-four young 
ladies under charge of Herbert Reed, carrying the National 
Flag representing the States of the Union, escorted by the 
Governor's Guards, Lieut. Fuller; the judges of the various 
courts, Dane county officers, the mayor and common council, 
the chancellor, faculty and students of the State University, 
and the Board of Education. The second division, G. P. Dela- 
PLAINE, Marshal, was composed of the State Artillery, Capt. 
McFarland; the Fifth regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, 
Col. Amasa Cobb; the Sixth regiment. Col. Lysander Cutler. 
The third division, S. G. Benedict, Marshal, with the Fire 
Department of the City of Madison. The fourth division, the 
military companies from Dane county, the Turn Verein Asso- 
ciation, and citizens of Dane county; and the fifth division,. 
Philander French of Fitchburg, Marshal, with a grand 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 283 

cavalcade of farmers. The officers of tlie day were, Hon. J. C. 
Fairchild, President; Vice Presidents, five from the city of 
Madison, and one from each town in Dane county ; Hon. 
Byrok Paine, Orator; D. McFarland, Reader; Rev. W. L. 
GreeN; Chaplain; J. H. McFarlakd, Chief Gunner. The 
exercises at the stand were very interesting. Judge Paine's 
address was a bhoughtfnl and philosophical production, clear 
and vigorous in style, and delivered without the aid of notes — 
the fine voice and elocution of the speaker giving it additional 
efiect. 

The State Journal^ in an article published in the month of 
December, says: "The year 1861 has been an eventful one, 
but with all the trials and hard times, of which people have 
justly complained in other parts of the country, Madison has. 
been exempt. The business has been prosperous, and the 
improvements of the town have been considerable and sub- 
stantial, showing a healthy financial condition of our citizens. 
Among the improvements that have been made during the 
year, are: the western wing of the State Capitol, which has- 
been put under contract in accordance with act of the Legis- 
lature, approved March 9, and the work of building so far com- 
pleted as to render its completion during the next summer an 
easy matter. A wing nearly doubling the capacity of the 
Insane Hospital, has been so nearly finished that it will be 
opened for patients next spring. These undertakings are of a 
public character, and have been prosecuted v/ith commendable 
enterprise. To the business buildings there has been erected 
the block of S. Klauber&Co., on Pinckney street, adding four 
noble stores. G. W. Gilmak has put up a fine building adjoin- 
ing, eighty-five feet deep. Church & Hawley have lately 
extended their manufacturing facilities, adding steam works, 
and various modern improvements in machinery. A. G. Dar- 
win has added to the hotel facilities a commodious house near 
the depot of the Milwaukee Railroad. This building is thirty- 
two feet, fronting the railroad track, and fiftj^-four feet deep, 
two story high with a longitudinal wing east of the same, 
fifty-five feet on the track, and thirty feet wide, with a veran.- 



284 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

dali on the south and east sides. Mr. J. C. Schette erected a 
large iron foundry during the summer, which, in the fall, was 
coverted into a flouring mill. Among the residences, are those 
of C. L. Williams, Esq., corner of Dayton and Hamilton streets; 
J. W. Hakyey, on Johnson stieet; Tkuman E. Bird, on Pinck- 
ney street; A. C. Dayis, corner of Johnson and Pinckney streets; 
G. A. Mason, on Johnson street; Mr. Walker, a stone building, 
in form resembling a castle, on Johnson street; A. Sheravin, 
Esq., on Gorham street; Thaddeus Dean, Esq., on Wisconsin 
Avenue." 

Prince Napoleon passed through the city August 31st, on 
his way to St. Paul. He and his suit were locked up in one of 
the cars. There was a large crowd anxious to see him, chiefly 
on account of the resemblance his features have to those, of his 
celebratea deceased kinsman. The daughter of Victor Emman- 
uel, his beautiful young wife, was not seen. As the train 
moved on, the crowd gave him a hearty cheer. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 285 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Rebellion History -- Death of Gov. Harvey — Elections, 1862-69 
— Public Schools, 1862-69 — Old Capitol Demolished and 
South Wing Built — State Historical Society History — 
Death of Nathaniel Ames — Steam Navigation — Business 
Statistics, 1865-68 — History op Governor's Guards — Arte- 
siAN Well — National Anniversaries, 1867-70 — United States 
Court House — Public and Private Improvements. 

The administration of Gov. Raitdall and other State offi- 
cers, terminated at noon, January 6, 1862, at which time 
Hon. Louis P. Haryey, late Secretary of State, took the oath 
of office and assumed the Executive chair. Soon after the bat- 
tle at Pittsburg Landing, on the 7th of April, the certainty 
that some of the Wisconsin regiments had suffered severely, in- 
duced the Governor to organize an expedition for the relief of 
the wounded and suffering soldiers. In less than twenty-four 
hours, supplies were gathered, and on the 10th the party started 
on their benevolent object. On their arrival at Chicago, they 
found ninety boxes of supplies, etc., furnished, which were for- 
warded, to accompany the party. Of this large number, sixty- 
one were from Milwaukee, thirteen from Madison, six from 
Beloit, and the remainder from various parts of the State. On 
their arrival at Mound City, they administered to the wants of 
some thirty soldiers, and also at Paducah and Savannah, where 
the presence of the Governor and the benefactions of Wiscon- 
sin friends did much to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and 
wounded. After the party had nearl}^ completed their labors, 
they took the boat at Pittsburg Landing, on the 19th, for 
Cairo. Here, a disaster occurred which brought sorrow to 
many hearts, and the loss to Wisconsin of its patriotic Gov- 
ernor. Passing from one boat to the other (the night being 
dark and rainy), Gov. Haryey made a misstep, and fell over- 
board between the two steamers. Every assistance was ren- 



286 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

dered that was possible, but without avail. His body, which 
had drifted a great distance down the river, was subsequently 
recovered and identified by his watch and some other property 
on his person, and was brought to Madison. This sad event 
made a deep impression on the public mind. Appropriate 
commemorative services were held at the Assembly Hall, and 
addresses delivered by Gov. E. Salomon, President A. L. CnAPm 
of Beloit College, and others. The funeral services took place 
on the 7th of May, and the remains were taken to Forest Hill 
Cemetery, followed by a large procession, where the}^ are de- 
posited. 

The Second Regiment, which had been identified with the 
Army of the Potomac from its organization to this time, and 
which was the representative of Wisconsin at the first battle 
of Bull Run, was about the 1st of October united with the 
Sixth and Seventh Regiments. In the re-organization of the 
army under Gen. McClellaj^-, these regiments, together with 
the Ninth Indiana, were organized as a brigade, and assigned to 
the command of Brig. Gen. GiBBOiq^. Thenceforth their his- 
tory is identical, and the State of Wisconsin may well be proud 
of their record, which has procured for them the name of the 
" Iron Brigade." As before stated, the city of Madison and 
Dane county were largely represented in these regiments. 

President Liis^coLJ^'s proclamation for 300,000 additional 
troops was made July 1, and five regiments were required of 
the State of Wisconsin. In consequence of this, the Governor 
called out regiments 21 to 25, inclusive, to prepare for service. 
The Twenty-third Regiment was composed, in part, of Dane 
county men, and we find the following officers as being from 
Madison: W. G. Pitman^, Adjutant. Company A, William F. 
Vilas, Captain, and Sii^^clair W. Botkin, First Lieutenant. 
Company D, Jos. E. Gree:n', Captain, J. W. Tolford, First 
Lieutenant, and F. A. Stoltze, Second Lieutenant. Company 
E, Jas. M. Bull, Captain, Henry Vilas, Second Lieutenant. 
Company I, A. R. Jones, Captain, J. M. Sumn^er, Second Lieu- 
tenant. 

The casualities occurring in the service this year, as far as re- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 287 

lates to this section, are here given. The names of privates 
cannot be furnished, as it is impossible to ascertain their loca- 
tion or place of residence. At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, 
April 5 (Shiloh), Lt. Col.. Cassius FAiBCHiLD,of the Sixteenth 
Kegiment, was severely wounded in the thigh. 

Col. Chas. L. Harris of the 11th Wisconsin, was wounded 
in the arm and leg, at the battle of Bayou Couche, in which 
engagement four were killed and forty-one wounded. 

At the battle of Cedar Mountains (Antietam), on the 9th of 
August, Capt. Wm. Hawley of Company K, of the Third Reg- 
iment, was wounded in the ankle, and Lieut. T. J. Widvey of 
the same company, was taken prisoner. This company went 
into action with 41 men, and lost, in killed and wounded, 18. 
On the 1st of November following, Capt. Hawley was pro- 
moted Lieutenant Colonel of the same regiment. 

Maj. J. W. jEFFERSOjq^ of the Eighth Regiment, was wounded 
at the second battle of Corinth, October 3. 

In the three days' fight of the 28th to 30th of August, at 
Gainesville and Bull Run, the Iron Brigade suffered severely. 
The Second Regiment went into the fight with 130 men, and 
lost, in killed, wounded and missing, 286. Capt. Julius F. 
Raj^^dolph of Company H, a well known and highly respected 
young man of Madison, was killed, with twelve of his com- 
pany, and twenty-three wounded. On the day succeeding the 
battle, Lt. Col. Lucius Fairchild was promoted Colonel. 

At the spring election in April, L. B. Vilas was the Union 
candidate for Mayor, and Wm. T. Leitcii the Democratic 
candidate; 1,359 votes were polled, of which the former re- 
ceived 619 votes and the latter 740, being elected by 121 ma- 
jority. Calvin Ainsworth was elected Police Justice and F. 
B. HucHTiNG, Treasurer. The following aldermen were also 
elected: 1st ward, E. B. Dean, Jr., and G. Grimm; 2d ward,T. 
E. Bird and A. C. Davis; 3d ward, C. W. Heyl and W. M. 
Rasdall; 4th ward, C. H. Luce and E. Kavanaugh. 

The National anniversary was observed in the usual manner. 
Hon. G. B. Smith, President; T. E. Bird, Marshal; W. F. 
Vilas, Reader; Rev. W. L. Green, Chaplain; J. H. Lathrop, 



288 HISTORY OF MADISON- AlSD THE 

Orator. A fine display of fireworks in the evening, closed the 
celebration. 

Prof. Chas. H. Allen, Superintendent of City Schools, in 
his report for the year, states that there were at the last enu- 
meration, 2,380 children in the city between the ages of four 
and twenty years — that the whole number registered in the 
public schools for the term commencing September, 1862, was 
656, and the average daily attendance 423. The superinten- 
dent makes a strong appeal for more and better school accomo- 
dations. 

The improvements in the city were not as large this year as 
some others. Among them was the enlargement of Fair-^ 
child's block on Pinckney and Main streets, Bemis and Boud- 
ler's meat market, N. W. Dean's block on State and Pinck- 
ney streets, and the Norwegian Lutheran church, corner of 
Hamilton and Butler streets. 

The Regents of the State University this year, established a 
Normal Department, and Prof. Charles H. Allen, was ap- 
pointed Principal. The department was opened on the 16th 
of March for the accomodation of students of either sex, 
seeking to educate themselves for the vocation of teaching* 
The entire south building was set apart for a boarding house^ 
dormitories and other rooms necessary for the department un- 
der the special charge of the Professor, aided by a preceptress^ 
The number of pupils enrolled at the fall term was one hun- 
dred and sixty-two. 

On the 16th of March, 1862, the Vestry of Grace Church ex- 
tended a call to the Rev. Jas. L. Maxwell, of Bordentown, N. 
J., which was accepted, and May 18, he entered upon his work 
as rector. During his ministry a fine organ was added by the 
liberality of the congregation, at an expense of some 12,500, 
and gave its first tones to a public congregation on the evening 
of Easter Monday, April 22, 1867. 

A northern climate being too vigorous for the health of his 
wife, Mr. Maxwell sent in his resignation May 1, 1867, and 
removed to New Jersey. 

On the 17th of March, 1863, the old Madison Hotel, built in 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 289 

1837-8, was destroyed by fire. A history of this, one of the 
oldest landmarks of the city, has already been given in the 
early history of the town. 

The annual election for city officers took place the 7th of 
April. For Mayor Wm. T. f .eitch received 774 votes, and Gen. 
Wm. W. Tkedway, 519. The former was elected by a major- 
ity of 255. For the office of Treasurer, C. W. Heyl received 
received 501 votes, Kyron Tierney 461, and T. C. Bourke,-- 
329; the former was elected, and also the following aldermen :- 
1st ward, J. Zehxpening, John Monaghan; 2d ward, J. H. 
Carpenter and H. M. Lewis; 3d ward, Jas. Ross and J. T. 
Stevens; 4th ward, Jos. Hobbins and H. N. Moulton. 

An act of the legislature was passed and approved March 
26, 1863, providing for continuing the work on the State 
Capitol, by which the Board of Building Commissioners 
were authorized to let to the lowest responsible bidder, the 
contract for the building and erection of the foundations 
of the South wing and of the rotunda and the erection 
and completion of the North wing; all of which was to 
be completed by December 31, 1863, the expense not to ex- 
ceed the sum of 163,000. On the 9th of May the bids were 
opened, and the contract awarded to James Livesey for 150,855 
as the lowest bidder. The work of demolishing the old Capitol- 
building was soon commenced. On the 20th of May the State 
Journal says: "Heavy weights of lead were found in the win- 
dow frames, which in the aggregate were worth 8300. Lead 
was used in the early time as it was cheaper than iron. The 
building was a somewhat " imposing " specimen of architecture, 
and the imposition became the more apparent as the new cap- 
itol building began to rise around and above it. It was the 
scene of many interesting incidents, some of them historical, 
but the greater part should rest under the mantle of forgetful- 
ness. It was in this building that were held the first Legisla- 
tures after the separate organization of Wisconsin as a Terri* 
tory — here were held the first political conventions — here the 
two constitutional conventions assembled — here Vineyard 
shot Arndt, and here he was indicted — here the Dodge and 



290 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

jDoTY controversies were figured and worked out — here was 
enacted tlie legislation which has made some and unmade oth- 
ers. The old huilding has witnessed many changes, has stood 
through good and much evil report, and finally passes away, to 
the gratification of the people of Madison, who now consider 
the " Capitol question " settled." 

" The work of building in the city progressed usually well 
this spring. A large number of dwellings and business blocks 
are already considerably advanced, and many others will soon 
be commenced. Among the fine residences now in process 
of erection, are those of Hon. Bekj. F. Hopkin^s on Lake 
Mendota, Timothy Browk, Esq., and D. K. Tek^j^ey. Gen. 
Simeo:n^ Mills, on his farm east of the city, is building an ele- 
gant country residence. A large number of other buildings, 
and additions to old ones, are being constructed. M. D. Mil- 
ler's block, corner of Carroll and Main streets, is going on 
finely, and a new block is to be built between the Fox Block 
(now occupied by Yroman^ & Frank) and the building now 
used for the Post Office." The " Turners' Hall " was also built. 

On the 27th of May, Mrs. Magdaline Stoker, wife of Mr. 
JoHJ^ Stoner, one of the first settlers of the city, died, aged 
Tl years and 5 months. Mr. and Mrs. Stouter came here the 
6th of September, 1837. He built his cabin near Lake Men- 
dota, on the low lands near tbe ridge, and resided in that neigh- 
borhood till his death. Mrs. Stoi^er was the mother of four 
daughters and of a son, who is the first male child born of 
white parents within the bounds of the city — J. Madisoi^ 
Stoi^er, now a resident of Colorado. The daughters grew up 
to womanhood, but soon after died of consumption. The old- 
est son, Geo. W. Ston'er, is still a resident of Madison. Mrs. 
Btois'er was an estimable lady, and was highly respected by 
eyery one. 

There was no formal celebration on the 4:th of July, this 
year. The Governor, however, directed the State Armorer, 
Capt. McFarland, to fire salutes at sun rise and sun set. 
There was a much larger number of persons in the city than 
was anticipated under the circumstances. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 291 

On the 27tli of August, Nathaniel Ames, the sole surviv- 
ing revolutionary soldier of the Northwest, departed this life, 
at his residence at Oregon, (12 miles south of Madison,) aged 
102 years, 4 months and 2 days. The chief incidents of the 
deceased veteran's life are familiar to the residents of Dane 
county, as they have frequently been referred to on the 4th of 
July and other national occasions, in which the veteran, not- 
withstanding his great age and accompanying infirmities, was 
always pleased and willing to participate. We have seen his 
pension paper, dated in 1833, signed by Lewis Cass, which cer- 
tified that he was entitled to draw a pension for his services as 
a private in the revolutionary army. He witnessed the execu- 
tion of A^DEE, and was present at other historic events of the 
revolutionary war. 

He has been for sixty-five years a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and his body was buried by them, at Rome Corners, 
on Sunday, the 30th inst., at 11 o'clock in the morning. Dele- 
gations from the lodges of this city, and from those of adjacent 
places, were present at the obsequies of this last revolutionary 
soldier in the Northwest. 

The Madison Mutual Insurance Company commenced break- 
ing ground for the erection of their new building on Mifflin 
street, near the corner of Pinckney street, on the 15th of Au- 
gust. It is to be 24 feet front by 60 feet deep. 

An act of the Legislature, approved April 2, 1863, incorpo- 
rated the " Methodist Episcopal Church Building Association," 
and a meeting was held on the 22d of August, to raise, by sub- 
scription, ^50,000 for the erection of a new church edifice. An 
agent was appointed to visit the diff'erent portions of the State 
to secure assistance for this object. 

From the report of the Board of Education for the year end- 
ing December, 1863, it appears that the total valuation of 
school property in the city, including buildings, furniture and 
grounds, was 826,791.62. The number of se^ats in all the pub- 
lic school buildings was 709, while the number of pupils en- 
rolled for the fall term of 1863 was 826. It is intended by the 
Board, if possible, to erect a new building in the Fourth Ward, 



292 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

whicli will increase the number of seats to about 1,000. The 
census of school children, as taken this j^ear, makes the whole 
number between the ages of four and twenty, 2,417, of which 
number 1,150 are males, and 1,267 females. 

The High School, which had been closed for nearly two 
years on account of financial difficulties, was this year re- 
opened with 55 pupils. 

The " First National Bank " was organized December 15, 
1863, with L. B. Vilas, S. D. Hastings, N. B. Van Slyke^ 
Geoege a. Mason and Timothy Brown as first Board of Di- 
rectors. 

We find the following casualties among the officers of Wis- 
consin volunteers, from Madison and vicinity, during the year: 

At [the battle of Black River Bridge, IMay 17, Daniel E, 
Hough, Captain of Company A, Eleventh Regiment, was mor- 
tally wounded, and died at the hospital June 3. At the battle 
of Gettysburg, July 1, Lucius Fairchild,* Colonel of Second 
Regiment, was wounded in the left arm, and suffered amputa- 
tion; and Capt. Nat. Rollins, of Company H, same regiment^ 
was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison, where he was de- 
tained until December 10, 1864, when he was exchanged. In 

* Hon. Lucius Fairchild, a son of Col. Jairus C. Fairchild, was born in 
the town of Kent, Portage countj^ Ohio, Dec. 27, 1830 ; received a com- 
mon school education ; is bj profession an attorney. He came to Wiscon- 
sm, in 1846, with his parents, and settled at Madison. In 1849, he made 
an overland trip to California, and remained there until 1855, when 
he returned to Madison. Was Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dane 
county in 1859 and i860; in 1861, entered the military service with the 
First Wisconsin Volunteers, and was commissioned successively Captain, 
Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Brigadier of Volunteers, and Captain in 
the Sixteenth Regiment, United States Regular Army. At the battle of 
Gettysburg, where he commanded the Second Wisconsin Regiment, of 
the " Iron Brigade," he lost an arm, and, while recruiting his health' 
received and accepted the Republican nomination for Secretary of State, 
to which position he was elected m 1863; in 1865, was elected Governor, 
and was re-elected in 1867 and 1869, serving six years in that capacity^ 
since which time, he has been appointed by the President, United States 
Consul at Liverpool, Eng., and is, at this date, filling that office with dis- 
tinguished ability. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 293 

the State Journal, of May 12, lie publishes a chapter of his 
personal experiences in prison. 

At Whitewater bridge, in the vicinity of Cape Girardeau, 
April 24, Capt. S. V. Shipman" of the First Cavalry, with forty 
men of his company, were surrounded by rebels, and had either 
to surrender or charge through a force of three hundred. They 
decided on the latter, and started. A deadly fire was opened on 
them as they advanced, from the front, but the sabres made 
such havoc among them that the breach was rapidly widened, 
and in a few minutes the company had cut their way through, 
and were on their way to the Cape. When nearly through the 
broken rebel ranks, Capt. Shipman's bridle rein was cut by a 
bullet, and his horse became unmanageable, when the crowd 
that had before given way, closed around him; and striking right 
and left, fighting with both sabre and pistol, he fell at last with a 
dangerous wound. Besides the band of rebels through whom 
they charged, with hundreds firing at them, they were really 
surrounded by 3,000, who had four pieces of artillery and 3,000 
more troops at some distance. Capt. Shipmaist's wound, at first 
considered fatal, proved very severe, sixty pieces of bone being 
taken from it at one time, and at last, after months of suffering, 
left him a cripple for life. 

Capt. Shipmajt was subsequently promoted Colonel. His 
charge on the rebels, says Mr. Love, in his " Wisconsin in the 
War of the Rebellion," " Will take rank among the most dar- 
ing and grand exploits of the war." 

An act of the Legislature, approved April 12, 1864, author- 
ized the Building Commissioners of the State Capitol to 
kt the contract for the completion of the south wing, and for 
the center part and rotunda to the top of the roof of the east 
and west wings, to be completed before December 31, and the 
sum of 160,000 was appropriated for that purpose. Proposals 
were received, and the lowest bidder was W. T. Fish, for 
$42,000. Section 9 of the same act which authorized the work 
to be completed, provides that the commissioners shall not let 
the contract for a larger sum than $35,000. In consequence of 
which, Mr. Fish's bid was declined and the contract was given 



294 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Wm. GooDEiq-ow of Milwaukee, for $33,000, who agreed to look 
to the next Legislature for an appropriation to cover deficiencies^ 
The work was immediately begun and completed by the tim& 
specified. 

In the month of April, Rev. Lewis E. Matson of Racine^ 
was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church, where 
he preached to the great acceptance of the church, until the 
summer of 1866, when he resigned to accept a call of the Ply- 
mouth church of Chicago. After a season of brief but ardu- 
ous and successful labor there, he was smitten by disease and. 
died at Lyons, France, June 21, 1868. 

The city election took place April 5. The candidates for 
Mayor were Wm. T. Leitch* and J. H. Carpentek. The 
former received 602 votes, and the latter 573, Mr. Leitch being 
elected by 29 majority. 

For Treasurer, Thos. C. Boitrke received 514, and C. W, 
Heyl 624 votes — the latter elected by 110 majority. For Po- 
lice Justice, there were three candidates, James T. Flower, 
who received 536 votes; Geo. E. Woodward, 172 votes, and 
John R. Baltzell, 459. Mr. Flower was elected, also the^ 
following Aldermen: 1st ward, Andrew Wald andE. Sprague;, 
2d ward, H. M. Lewis and Tim. Brown; 3d ward, K. Tiernet 
and Ernest Dcerschlag; 4th ward, J. M. Dickinson and Geo^ 
D. Lincoln. • 

Wm. a. Ha^yes was elected Clerk, and John Reynolds, As- 
sessor. The assessed valuation of city property, as reported by 
the latter officer, was, real estate, $1,515,160; personal prop- 

*William T, Leitch is a son of James Leitch, manufacturer of Edinburgh^ 
Scotland, and was born October i8, 1808. He Avas educated at that place 
and remained there until April, 1829. Arrived in the United States May^ 
1829, and settled in the city of New York, where he resided nearly all the 
time until June, 1858, when he removed to Madison. While in New York 
he was engaged in a large and successful business in the wholesale south- 
ern clothing trade, until the commencement of the late war. 

He has held the office of Mayor for three terms, 1862, 63, 64; was twelve 
years President of the Madison Horticultural Society, and ten years ves- 
tryman of Grace Church, and has held other offices. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. ' 295 

erty, 1550,555.50; total, $2,065,715.50. The amount of the 
tax levy was 153,575.36. 

The Second Regiment of Wisconsin Yolanteers returned, 
after their three years' enlistment, on the 18th of June. They 
were received with great demonstrations by citizens of Madison ^ 
and large numbers from the country. 

There was no formal celebration on the national anniversary. 
Salutes were given at sun rise and sun set by the State authori- 
ties. The newspapers of the 5th gave as a reason for the quiet 
of the day, that the people of the city and country but re- 
cently had a celebration at the reception of the Second Regi- 
ment, and did not feel inclined to have another so soon. A 
celebration was held at Mazomanie, in which some of the 
prominent men of this city participated. At Camp Randall, 
the " Veteran Reserve Corps," which was then in camp, had 
an impromptu celebration in a quiet way. A table was spread 
in a grove, and a good dinner provided. Volunteer toasts and 
speeches were made. A correspondent of the Journal takes 
the people of Madison to task for their want of patriotism, etc. 

Capt. Francis Barnes, this year, introduced on Lake Mo- 
nona the '' Scutanawbequon," brought here from Lake Kosh- 
konong. It was 28 feet in length, 11 feet wide, and drew 18 
inches of water; four horse power engine, and makes aboufc 
seven miles per hour. Its introduction was a great success, 
and was the pioneer of the steam pleasure boats on the lake.* 

The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, this year, com- 
pleted their road to this place via Beloit, giving the city a di- 
rect communication to Chicago without going to Milwaukee. 

The business of Madison, this year, was promising, and a 
number of desirable improvements made. W. J. Sullivaj^ 
built a block west of the Baptist Church, to the corner of 
Washington avenue. The former residence of Gov. Farwell, 
on Lake Monona, was purchased for a hospital for soldiers, and 

* It is proper to state that I. E. Brown had a small steamer occasionally, 
on Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, some years before. It was small in 
size, and did not pay for running it. Mr. Griffin, of the Lake Side House, 
also had a boat running to accommodate the guests. 



296 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

large additions made to it. It was subsequently used as a 
Home for Soldiers' Orphans, and supported by State aid. 

The German Methodist Church, on the corner of Mifflin and 
Webster streets, was built — a handsome brick edifice. Gen. 
L. Fairchild erected a store on Main street, near the Capital 
House, twenty by sixty-six feet, forty feet high, and three sto- 
ries. A. Kentzlee built his large brick stable. 

The following casualities occured in the government service 
in 1864, as far as relates to Madison: F. A. Haskell, Colonel 
of the 36th Regiment, at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 
3d, was struck by a rebel bullet in the head and was instantly 
killed. His loss was deeply felt by the men under his com- 
mand, and a host of friends in Wisconsin ; with the Iron Bri- 
gade he had faced the fire at Gainesville, Antietam, Gettys- 
burg and other battles in which the brigade participated. In 
the same engagement. Adjutant B. D. Atwell, of the same reg- 
iment was wounded, and at the battle at Reams' Station, Va., 
August 25, he was missing in the action, and was subsequently 
a paroled prisoner of war. Lt. Geo. E. Albee, of Co. F, was 
also missing at the same battle, and was also paroled prisoner 
of war. C. E. Warner, of Windsor, Dane county, Captain 
of Co. B., same regiment, was promoted after the battle of Cold 
Harbor, to the rank of Major and Lt. Colonel, and was wounded 
in action at Deep Bottom, Va., August 14, which shattered 
his left arm, rendering amputation necessary. Wm. P. At- 
w^ELL, 1st Lieutenant of Co. G., 37th regiment at the assault on 
the mined Fort at Petersburg, Ya., was so severely wounded 
that amputation of the leg was necessary. 

At the battle of Bald Hill, near Atlanta, July 21, 1864, Lieut. 
Col. Thos. Reynolds, of the 16th regiment, was shot while 
passing over cartridges, by a rebel sharp shooter secreted to the 
right of the regiment. The ball entered his thigh midway be- 
tween the knee and the hip joint, fracturing the bone, but 
not enough to require amputation. 

The 11th regiment took an active part in the operations in 
front of Blakely, Alabama, and received from the commanding 
officer, in his report of the engagement, the highest praise " for 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 297 

the zeal, energy and faithfulness of both officers and men, and 
for the gallantry displayed in that memorable charge on the 
enemy's works on the 9th of April." Particular mention is 
made of 1st Lieut. Angus R. McDonald, who commanded Co, 
E, for his gallant and heroic conduct; who on mounting the 
parapet of the enemy's works was attacked by six men. He 
knocked down two men with his sabre, and in return received 
a bayonet wound m the right lung and a musket ball in the 
right thigh. Sergeant D. B. Mooee, of Co. E, whose timely 
aid saved the life Lieut. McDonald, shot one, bayoneted 
another, and when his own gun was shattered, seized another, 
and compelled the remainder of the party to surrender. 

The annual reports of the Board of Education for the years 
1864 and 1865, were published in the spring of 1866, and from 
them the following statistics are taken: The whole num- 
ber of children of school age in the city according to the 
last census, was 3,193. The whole number who have attended 
school, enrolled since September 1, 1864, 978. The Fourth 
ward school house was reported under contract, and when com- 
pleted, the pressure on the lower departments will be relieved, 
that a stricter gradation can be made. There were fourteen 
teachers in the employ of the board. Mr. J. T. Loyewell, as 
Superintendent and Principal of the High School and Miss 
Emeli:n'e Curtis, Assistant. The salaries of female teachers 
were $400. 

The work on the State Capitol was continued on the South 
wing this year, and an act of the legislature, approved April 10, 
appropriated 125,000 for that purpose. The census of the state 
as taken by the State authorities in 1865, gives the population 
of Dane county, 51,094 — the town of Madison, 804, and the 
city of Madison, 9,191. 

At the annual city election E. W. Keyes and Fred. Briggs 
were opposing candidates for Maj^or. The former was elected 
by about 50 majority. John Reynolds was elected Treasurer, 
and the following persons aldermen: A. B. Braley and J. 
Hereon, 1st ward; L. S. Ingman and J. Corscott, 2d ward; 
20 



298 HISTORY OF MADISON A2^D THE 

E. Speague and A. Hekfurth, 3d ward; J. J. Staeks and T, 
"W. GiBBS, 4th ward. 

The assassination of President Lincoln", on the IStli of April, 
was sensibly felt here, as in other places. A meeting of the 
citizens was held, and arrangements made for appropriate mem- 
orial funeral ceremonies. Owing to unfavorable weather the 
procession was omitted, and the services were held in the As- 
sembly Hall on the 19th. Remarks were made by Gov. J. T.. 
Lewis, Hon. Chauncey Abbott and Rev. Lewis E. Matson. 
The remains of Gen. Theo. Reed, a son of Prof. Daniel. 
Reed of the State University, who was killed in a recent en- 
gagement before Richmond, Va., were brought to this city, and 
appropriate services were held at the Assembly Hall, with an ad-^ 
dress by Prof. J as. D. Butler. The remains were interred in 
Forest Hill cemetery. 

The 89th National Anniversary was celebrated this year in a 
suitable manner. The closing of the war of the Rebellion had 
taken place, and it was decided at the preliminary meetings 
held by the citizens, to have a gf^eat celebration. The follow- 
ing were the officers of the day, and brief account of the exer- 
cises: Gen. David Atwood, President; Vice Presidents, one 
from each town in the county; W. H. C. Hosmer, Poet; Rev. W. 
L. Green and Rev. J. L. Maxwell, Chaplains; Col. Geo. E. 
Bryant, with six assistants. Marshal; Reader, Col. "Wm. F. 
Vilas; Hon. Geo. C. Bates, of Chicago, was expected to de- 
liver the oration, but failed to appear, and Hon. H. S. Orton 
filled his place. In the afternoon there was a target practice 
on the shore of lake Mendota, the gun Napoleon was served by 
a squad of the veterans of the 3d battery under command of 
Capt. H. F. Hubbard. The target which was anchored at a 
distance of a thousand yards from the shore consisted of two 
dry-goods boxes in a skiff. The shots were well made, and the 
exercises interesting to the large number present. There was a 
supplementary celebration held in the Park in the afternoon,, 
which was enlivened by music from a quartette choir of male 
singers. I. N. DeFoeest presided, and speeches were made by 
J. W. Johnson, S. G. Bean, Rev. Geo. Fellows, Rev. L. E» 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 299 

Matson and Henry Dreav. In the evening, Wisconsin Ave- 
nue was crowded, and a fine display of fireworks was made on 
the avenue west of the Presbyterian church. The new Yacht 
St. Louis, that had been recently placed on Lake Mendota, did 
an extensive business in half hour trips to Pic-nic Point, and 
Capt. Barnes' steamer, the " Scut," was well patronized. The 
Yacht is a beautiful boat 30 feet in length by twelve feet eight 
inches broad, and is schooner rigged. 

In July the clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Dane county 
published a table of taxes raised by the towns of the county for 
paying bounties to volunteers and furnishing aid to their fam- 
ilies; from this report, the amount of tax raised in the county,, 
was $485,532.42; raised by private subscription, 1153,984.86; 
raised by county tax for soldiers families, $9,234.33. Making the 
whole amount raised by the county, $648,751.61. The town 
of Madison raised $7,813.19, and the city of Madison $96,077.00, 
of which $23,000 was by private subscription. 

The City Assessor reports the taxable property of this city^ 
viz: Real property, $1,835,318.00; Personal, $1,163,543.79 — an 
increase over the previous year of $325,000. The amount of 
tax to be collected, $36,755.42. 

The Internal Revenue tax as published for 1864-5, shows. 
Dane county entire $53,329.85 — city of Madison, $42,044.95, 
of which last amount, $32,292.75, was from incomes. 

In addition to the statistics above given, the following show- 
ing the value of the manufactured goods in Madison for the 
year past, may prove interesting, prepared by W. T. Leitch, 
City Assessor: 

Iron manufactured and agricultural implements $io8, 6S5 00 

C^^thing 100,806 CO 

Flour, 12,000 barrels ^2,000 00 

Ti"^^'^^-^ 20,74700 

L^S^'-beer ._ 61,11000 

C^^^S^^ 27,000 00 

Cabinet ware ^^.^ ^ 

Boots and shoes 29,508 00 

The first bill for a Soldiers' Orphans' Home was introduced 



300 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

in the Assembly in 1865; but the law authorizing the present 
establishment was enacted by the Legislature of 1866, although 
the Home was opened January 1,1866; the necessary means 
being contributed by private subscription. The amount re- 
ceived from this source was 112,834.69. The building, on the 
bank of Lake Monona, not quite a mile from the capitol square? 
was erected for a residence by Grovernor Farwell, in 1856. 
During the war it was purchased by the United States Govern- 
ment and converted into the widely known ''Harvey Hospital," 
for the care and treatment of sick and wounded soldiers. The 
property was purchased by the State for $10,000, and the Home 
became a State institution, March 31, 1866. Prior to the pur- 
chase of the property by the State, the institution had been 
opened by Mrs. Harvey and a temporary board of trustees. 
Under their direction, the building was thoroughly refitted and 
furnished, and at the time the State took possession, there 
were eighty-four orphans duly admitted and properly cared 
for. Mrs. C. A. P. Harvey, the widow of Governor Harvey, 
was the first Superintendent. On the first of May, 1867, Mrs. 
Harvey resigned as Superintendent, and General Harndej^ as 
Financial Agent. Mr. F. B. Brewer succeeded Mrs. 
Harvey, and Mrs. Brewer was appointed Matron. Mr. 
Brewer resigned the 1st of January, 1868, and Rev. L N. 
Cu]S"DALL was elected to the position. After filling it over a 
year, he resigned, and was succeeded by W. P. Towers, and 
Mary Towers, his wife, as Matron. Mr. Towers resigned 
March 1, 1872, and was succeeded by R. W. Burton, who is 
the present Superintendent. 

The orphans are not only maintained, but educated and 
are brought up to habits of industry. 

Under the law of 1870, six of the pupils of the Home have 
been sent to the Normal School at Whitewater to be educated 
at the expense of the State for two years, the expense not to 
exceed l>200 per year for each pupil. 

On the 30th of September, 1873, there were 153 children in 
the Home. The Legislature of 1872 appropriated $30,000 for 
the current expenses, and in 1873, 120,000 for the same pur- 
pose. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 301 

During the year 1871, one of the boys of the Home, Mej^del 
P. Blakesley, of Patch Grove, was recommended by the exami- 
ners as a suitable candidate for the naval school at Annapolis, 
and in June he went there, passed the examination at the 
school and was appointed by President Grant. 

During the year, the Home received -^23,000 in bonds and 
$554.97 accrued interest, after paying all the expenses in secur- 
ing this magnificent bequest; which was the Home's share of 
nearly one hundred thousand dollars left by Horatio Ward, 
deceased, an eminent American banker, who died in London, 
England, to the various Homes that have been formed through- 
out the loyal states for the orphans by the late war for the res- 
toration of the Union. The philanthropic testator expressed 
his desire as to the disposition of this fund as follows: "I 
judge that the interest only, for a time, will be used, and that 
the bequest will be so managed as to give the orphans, as they 
become of age, a sum of money to fit them out in life, and 
thus gradually extinguish the fund." 

The Legislature of 1871 enacted a law to the effect that after 
September, 1871, all children remaining in the Home shall be- 
come the wards of the State, and that the State Board of Chari- 
ties and Reform shall be their legal guardians, with authority 
to bind out any of the children to such trade or occupation as 
is deemed best, and to exercise a close supervision over their 
interest and safety, during their minority. 

The improvements of the city for the year were numerous 
and valuable. The beautiful block of Mr. KoHi^-ER, on Main 
street, is one of the finest ever built in the place. It is 33 feet 
front by 120 feet deep, three stories high above the basement, 
built of cream colored brick, with large plate glass windows. 
This building was erected on the site of the old framed build- 
ing known as the Dean and Buggies building. Some notice of 
this old landmark which was removed in June of this year to 
make room for its elegant successor, may not be inappropriate. 
The building was erected in the summer of 1813, and occupied 
by Dr. J. D. Westoj^ as a drug and grocery store. He was sue- 



302 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

ceeded by Shields & S^steeden,'*' who largely increased the 
business. In 1849, E. B. Dean, Jr., and J. D. Ruggles formed 
a copartnership, and occupied this building. It was next occu- 
pied by Gray & Stakes, succeeded by Gleason & Houghton^ 
who established a hardware store, which stock was subsequently 
purchased by John N. Jones. On the completion of Mr. 
Jones' new building on Pinkney street, he ' removed, and the 
old building was overhauled and refitted for a drug store for 
Dean & Paedee, who occupied it until the time came for its 
removal. 

Among the improvements of the year was the erection of 
" Immanuel Church " by the German Evangelical Society, on 
the corner of Pinckney and Hamilton streets — a very neat 
brick building 34 by 50 feet; the two story dwelling house of 
Wm. Vroman, corner of Henry and Gilman streets, and numer- 
ous others. Late in the fall the first Nicholson pavement was 
laid on Main street, on the southeast side of the park. 

In closing up the record of the war history as far as relates 
to Madison and Dane county, the annexed account of the his- 
tory of the Governor's Guard will prove of interest. It has 
been prepared with great care by Chandler P. Chapman, 
Esq., of Madison. It will be seen that the Governor's Guard 
has a noble record. It furnished some of the bravest of men 
who served in the recent War of the Rebellion. 

The " Governor's Guard," an independent company, attached 
to the Eighteenth Regiment of Wisconsin State Militia, was 
organized, at a meeting held in the city of Madison, January 
30, 1858. 

The history of the company, from the time of its organiza- 
tion to the commencement of the rebellion, is much the same 
as that of similar organizations. In common with them, its 
members had to patiently endure the taunts of overwise civil- 
ians as to the childishness of " playing soldier," belonging to 
the "floodwood" militia, and the like. Their record below is 
their justification. 

^Shields & Sneeden built the brick block next to Verhusen, and re- 
moved their goods from the Weston store. 



FOUB LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 303 

Their close application to drill under the direction of com- 
petent officers, soon ^ave them the reputation of heing one of, 
if not the best disciplined company in the northwest. 

At the time of the first call for troops, in April, 1861, the 
roll of active members was smaller than it had ever been be- 
fore. At their last street parade they turned out but little 
over thirt}^ muskets. 

Promptly on the first news of the call, the company ten- 
dered its services to the Governor, and, after being recruited 
to the maximum, assigned to the First Regiment of three 
months men. 

Since that time (the 20th of April, 1861,) no meetings of the 
company have been held, and the military history of its indi- 
vidual members, given below, is its histor}^ 

Can any military organization in the United States, of its 
age and numbers, show a better record? If so, let the names 
and dates be published; if not, we claim the championship for 
the " Governor's Guard," of Madison, Wis. 

The regiments are of Wisconsin volunteers, unless otherwise 
mentioned. 

Brigadier General. — Lucius Fairchild. — Capt. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy. 
(3 mos.), April 20, 1861 ; Capt. 16tli Regulars, Aug. 5, 1861 ; Lt. Col. 2d 
Regt, Aug. 20, 1861 ; Col., Aug. 30, 1862 ; Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols., Oct. 20, 
1863. 

Colonels.— W^i. Hawley— Capt. Co. K, 3d Regt. Infy., April 24, 1861 ; 
Lt. Col., Aug. 9, 1862 ; Col., March 10, 1863. 

T. S. Allen — Private Co. K, 1st Regt., (3 mos.) ; Capt. Co. I, 2d, April 
2, 1862; Major, Aug. 22, 1861; Lt. Col., Sept. 8, 1862; Col. 5tli Regt., Dec. 
^5, 1862 ; Col. 5th, (reorganized), Sept. 5, 1864. 

John W. Jefferson— Major 8th Regt. Infy., Aug. 8, 1861; Lt. Col. 
Feb. 2, 1863; Col., June 1, 1864. 

Charles L. Harris— Lt. Col. 1st Regt. Inf., (3 mos.), April 22, 1861; 
Col. 11th, Sept. 2, 1861. 

George E. Bryant— Capt. Co. E, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.); Col. 12th, 
Sept. 27, 1861. Mustered out at expiration of three years' service. 

James K. Proudfit— 2d Lt. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.), April 3, 
1861; Adjt. 12th, Sept. 27,1861; Lt. Col., July 30, 1863; Col., Nov. 21, 
1864. 



304 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Cassius Fairchild— Major 16th Regt. Inf., Oct. 10, 1861; Lt. Col.» 
Dec. 10, 1861; Col., March 17, 1864. 

Frank A. Haskell— A djt. 6th Regt. Infy., June 2, 1861 ', 1st Lieut. Co. 
I, July 5, 1861; 1st Lieut. Co. D, April 18, 1863; Col. 36th, Feb. 9, 1864; 
killed, June 3, 1864. 

Ezra T. Sprague — Corp. 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.); Adjt., 8th, Sept. 3, 
1861 ; Col. 42d, July 29, 1864. 

Lieutenant Colonels. — Julius P. Atwood — Lt. Col. 6th Regt. Infy., May 
28, 1861 ; resigned Sept. 14, 1861. 

DeWitt C. Poole — 1st Lieut. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.), April 
20, 1861 ; Lt. Col. 12th, Sept. 25, 1861 ; resigned July 3, 1863. Commis- 
sioned Lt. Col. Vet. Reserve Corps. 

Thomas Reynolds— Q. M. 17th Regt. Infy., Dec. 7, 1861 ; Major 16th, 
Dec. 10, 1861 ; Lt. Col., March 17, 1864. 

Wm. F. Vilas— Capt. Co. A, 23d Regt. Inf., Aug. 14, 1862; Major, Feb. 
26, 1863; Lt. Col., March 23, 1863; resigned Aug. 29, 1863. 

Chas. a. Wood— 1st Sergt. Co. K, 1st Regt. Inf., (3 mos.) ; Lt. Col. 11th, 
Sept. 2, 1861 ; resigned June 7, 1863. 

Wm. H. Miller— 2d Lieut. Co. E., 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.), April 20, 
1861 ; Major 2d Cav., Dec. 10, 1861 ; Lt. Col., June 13, 1863. 

Majors. — Wm. H. Plunkett — 1st Lieut. Co. E, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.) ; 
Adjt. l'7th, Nov. 11, 1861; Major, Kov. 25, 1862. 

A. J. Ward — Surgeon 2d Regt. Inf., Aug. 6, 1861 ; Surgeon 43d, Aug. 
12, 1864. 

Benton McConnell— Q. M. 10th Regt. Infy., Aug. 22, 1861 ; Paymas- 
ter, Feb. 19, 1863. - 

H. K. Lawrence — Paymaster U. S. A., June 30, 1862. 

Joseph E. Green— Capt. Co.'D, 23d Regt. Infy., Major, Aug. 29, 1863. 

Captains. — A. A. Meredith — 1st Lieut. Co. H, 2d Regt. Infy., May 9, 
1861 ; Capt. and A. C. S., June 11, 1862. 

Julius F. Randolph— Capt. Co. H, 2d Regt. Infy., April 26, 1861; 
killed, Aug. 28, 1862. 

Nat. Rollins— 2d Lieut. Co. H, 2d Regt. Infy., April 26, 1861 ; 1st 
Lieut., June 11, 1862; Capt., Aug. 29, 1862. 

Edward R. Chase— Sergt. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.) ; Capt. Co. 
F, 11th Regt. Infy., Oct. 2, 1861 ; Capt. Vet. Reserve Corps. 

E. S. Oakley— 1st Lieut. Co. B, 11th Regt. Infy., Sept. 30, 1861 ; Capt, 
Feb. 15, 1862; resigned, Jan. 23, 1863. 

Wm. G. Pitman— Lieut. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.); Adjt. 23d Regt. 
Infy., Sept. 1, 1862; Capt. Co. I, April 6, 1863; resigned, Dec. 16, 1863. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 305^ 

A. R. Jones— Capt. Co. I, 23d Regt. Infy., Aug. 20, 1862 ; resigned, 
April 4, 1863. 

J. W. ToLFORD— 1st Lieut. Co. D, 23d Regt. Infy., Aug. 21, 1862; Capt^ 
Co. G, May 11, 1863. 

Albert Pearson — Chief Mus'n 2d Regt. Cav. ; 1st Lieut. 1st Ark. Cay., 
now Capt. 

Geo. T. Clark — Capt. Co. of Colorado Cavalry, on expedition against 
Indians. 

•ijanuiy '8 '0 u''^-i9W^a noiSniqsB^ „ '^d-uj — aHOJavag 'O -ji 

Lieutenants. — Lewis D. Aldrich — Sergt. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy., (3- 
mos.); Adjt. 4tli Infy., June 14, 1861; died, May 21, 18G2. 

Jas. D. Ruggles— Q. M. 2d Regt. Infy., June 12, 1861 ; resigned Feb, 
27, 1863. 

Theodore J. Widvey— 1st Lieut. Co. K, ,3d Regt. Infy., April 24,. 
1861 ; resigned, March 13, 1863. 

H. B. LiGHTHizER— 2d Lieut. Co. E, 4th Regt. Infy., June 8, 1861 ; 1st 
Lieut., Aug. 24, 1862; resigned, June 2, 1863. 

James L. Baker— 2d Lieut. Co. D, 23d Regt. Infy., Feb. 6, 1863 ; 1st 
Lieut., May 30, 1863. 

Daniel R. Coit— 1st Lieut. 11th Reg. Infy., May 14, 1861. 

L. C. Mitchell — 1st Lieut., lOtli Regt. Infy. 

George M. Sarin — Corp, Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy., (3 mos.); Adjt. 16tby- 
Nov. 19, 1861 ; discharged at expiration of three years' service, having, 
declined promotion as Lt. Col. 5th Infy. 

Ed. Illsley — A. A. Paymaster, U. S. Navy. 

Geo. E. Bacon— Adjt. Regt. N. Y. Vols. 

Jesse T. Gleason — Adjt. 23d Indiana Vols. 

Wm. S. Hobart — 1st Lieut. Pennsylvania Vols., (3 mos.) 

Non-Gommissioned Officers and Privates. — Jas. Murison — N. C. S., 1st 
Regt. Infy., (3 mos.) 

C. P. Chapman— N. C. S., 6th Regt. Infy. 

Chas. Chittenden — N. C. S., 11th Regt. Infy. 

J. W. Johnson — Corp. Co. K, 1st Regt. Infy,, (3 mos.) 

Henry Pellage — Leader of Gen. Blunt's band. 3Iurdered by Quant- 
kell's guerillas. 

T. D. Kanouse — Musician Gth Regt. Infy. 

Geo. "W. Smith — Private in Berdan's Sharpshooters. 

T. T. Richardson — Private in Berdan's Sharpshooters. 

A. C, Mills— Private, 40th Regt. Infy. 



306 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

RECAPITULATION. 

brigadier General, 1 

Colonels, 9 

Lieutenant Colonels, 6 

Majors, - - 5 

Captains, 10 

Rebel Captain, . .1 

Lieutenants, ..--.. 12 

Non-Commissionecl officers and privates, 9 

Total, .--... 53 



1866. The south wing of the State Capitol was completed 
according to contract, and the rooms and offices put in readi- 
ness for use. The State Historical Society removed their 
valuable library and collections to the second floor of the 
wing, which had been appropriated for their use by the State 
Legislature, and prepared with suitable glass cases and furni- 
ture. On the evening of January 24th, the rooms were 
formally dedicated by appropriate services in the Assembly 
Chamber — addresses by I. A. Lapham, LL. D., President of the 
Society, . and Ex-Grov. Edw. Salomois', and singing by a select 
quartette choir. 

Hon. J. Y. Smith, in writing of the opening of the new 
rooms for the State Historical Society, says : " The occasion 
was one of unmingled satisfaction to the founders and early 
friends of the enterprise, and of deep interest to the large 
assembly convened upon the occasion. We know of no enter- 
prise of the like magnitude, which reflects so much credit upon 
the State as this. While its cost in money has been but trifling, 
its usefulness is beyond estimate. It will be a favorite and 
profltable resort for state officers and members of legislatures, 
professors and students of the University, and the curious and 
studious of all classes; and future generations of citizens will 
bless the forethought which provided such a reservoir of 
knowledge. No stranger should visit Madison without spend- 
ing a day at the Historical rooms, where he wdll alw^ays find a 
cordial welcome." 



» FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 307 

Mr. Smith also gives an interesting account of the liistory 
of the Society, from which the following extracts are taken: 

" The State Historical Society, which was organized in Jan- 
uary, 1849, was re-organized under a charter of the legislature 
of 1853. In the re-organization. Gen. Wm. R. Smith was 
elected President, and Lyman C. Draper, Corresponding Sec- 
retary. 

"The growth and prosperity of this Society began from 
the date of its re-organization. Under the energetic and 
untiring efforts of the Secretary, Mr. Draper, it made rapid 
progress from this time onward, in the objects for which it 
was formed — the securing of historical collections. He 
opened correspondence with other societies, and with indi- 
viduals throughout the country, soliciting donations and 
exchanges from every available source, as well as written contri- 
butions and relics relating to the history of our own State, and 
the result was, that collections rapidly accumulated. 

" Mr. D. S. DuRRiE was chosen Librarian at the election in 
January, 1856, but for two years his duties were but nominal 
and rendered without compensation. The Society in 1856, 
procured rooms in the basement of the Baptist Church, and in 
1858, the collections had become so large and of so much 
interest, that the Librarian devoted his whole time to the 
duties of that office, in which position he has been continued 
by the votes of the Society to the present time. 

"Chiefly as the result of the labors of the Corresponding 
Secretary and Librarian, the Society has become a success 
beyond anything of the kind in this section of the country." 

The Library* now numbers, January, 1866, 21,366 volumes, 
bound and unbound, of which 1,136 are bound newspaper files. 
Of the latter, 138 were published in the last century, several 
of them by Dr. Fraitklin, and one volume in the century 
preceding. The Society has, moreover, sixty oil paintings, 
mostly portraits; over 100 atlases, maps and diagrams, some 

*The Library contained, January i, 1874, 57,254 books, pamphlets and 
documents, 91 oil portraits and pamtings, and 2,144 volumes of bound 
newspaper files. 



308 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

of them giving us the vague ideas entertained of the American 
continent nearly two hundred years ago. The Society has an 
exceedingly interesting collection of mementoes aud relics of 
the recent war, and many curious articles, both},natural and 
artificial, sent it from various sections of the State. 

The city election took place April 3d. E. W. Keyes,* was- 
the Union candidate for Mayor. Simeon Mills was solicited 
to be a candidate, which honor he accepted, but declined before 
the election. Wm. H. Nolan (colored), received 306 votes. Mr, 
Keyes, 961, and was elected. There was no opposition to Col. 
S. V. Shipman for Treasurer, who received 1,402 votes. For 
Police Justice, Jas. M. Flower received 586 votes, and John 
R. Baltzell, 825, and was elected by 239 majority. The fol- 
lowing Aldermen were elected: H. Lacker and Jas. Conklin^ 
First ward; H. M. Leavis and John Corscott, Second ward; 
Ky^ron Tierney and M. Neinhaber, Third ward; and Geo. W. 
McDouGAL and J. C. McKenney, Fourth ward. 

The water in the lakes this spring was higher than than for 
many years. The marsh, north of the capitol, was submerged, 
the bridges across the Catfish were broken and drifted away, 
and all travel out of the city by the usual route was cut o& 
It was some little time before the injuries could be repaired. 

An act of the legislature was passed and approved for the 
completion of the State Capitol and heating the same, the latter 
to be completed by December 1, 1866, and the former, December 
1, 1867, and the sum of 1110,000 appropriated, of which 
amount $85,000 was to complete the building, and $25,000 for 
the heating apparatus. As required by the law, the building 
commissioners received proposals for the work, but the amount 

* Elisha W. Keyes, Esq., is a son of Capt. Joseph and Cleve Keyes, and was 
born at Northfield, Washington county, Vermont, January 23, 1828. He 
came to Wisconsin with his parents in June, 1837. He resided at Lake Mills, 
Jefferson county, until 1850, and removed to Madison in December of that 
year to commence the study of law. He was admitted to the bar October 
14, 1851, and was elected District Attorney for Dane county, 1859 ^"^ i860, 
He was appointed Postmaster at Madison in April, 1861, and re-appointed 
in 1865, 1869 and 1873, ^nd has been the Chairman of the Republican 
State Central Committee for a long term of years. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTBY OF WISCONSIN. 309 

appropriated proving insufficient — the amount of the lowest 
bid being $151,500 — the commissioners decided not to take anj^ 
further steps in the matter, but to refer the same to the next 
legislature. The steam heating apparatus was put in the 
building during the year, at an expense of $25,000. 

The Legislature, at the same session, passed an act approved 
April 11, for erecting one transverse and one longitudinal wing 
on the east side of the main building of the Hospital for the 
Insane. On the 19th of June proposals were received from 
contractors, and the contract was awarded to A. Pkoudfit for 
the mason work at $64,500, and Anderson, Davidson & Co., 
carpenter work, $33,500, the whole amounting to $98,000. 

Dr. A. H. Van Norstrand succeeded Dr. J. P. Clement as 
Superintendent, April 20, 1864, and discharged his duties unbil 
June 6, 1868, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Dr. A. 
S. McDiLL, who served until April 29, 1873, and was succeeded 
by Dr. Mark Ranney, the present Superintendent. 

The entire length of the hospital building is 569 feet, the 
center building being 65 by 120 — the first longitudinal wing 
on each side of the center is 132 feet, and the last, on each ex- 
tremity, is 119 feet. The transverse wings are 87 feet long. 
These elegant and commodious buildings are surrounded by 
ornamental grounds, wood and farming lands to the extent of 
393 acres, and when the extensions and improvements contem- 
plated are added, will make it a complete institution, creditable 
to the enterprise and philanthropy of the people of Wisconsin, 
and well adapted for the care of the unfortunates needing their 
protection. The construction of the Madison and Baraboo 
Railroad, with a station in the northeast corner of the hospital 
farm, gives the institution a railroad connection, the absence of 
which has heretofore been a serious drawback to the locality. 

From the annual report of the Board of Education for the 
year 1866, we have the following items: The whole number 
of children in the city of school age, 3,366. The present school 
accommodations are for 965 children; the building of the 
Fourth Ward School House, on lots 1 and 2, block 48, over- 
looking Lake Monona, was put under contract to Jas. Liyesey 



310 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

for $12,130, and outbuildings, $500. This building was com- 
pleted during the year, and is built in the Italio- American style,. 
65 feet front by 42i deep with projections in front of 5 by 22- 
feet, and 7 by 22 in the rear. It is constructed of buff colored 
Edgerton brick, with magnesian limestone dressing with a 
gable or pediment on each four sides, and a bell tower 
in the center of the roof. It is heated by two furnaces 
in the basement. Hon. J. Gr. McMynk, then State Super- 
intendent, pronounces it "the best arranged school build- 
ing in the State.'' The board propose to purchase lots 2 and 
3, block 138, for the Second Ward School, and intend to com- 
mence immediately the erection of a school house modeled after 
the Fourth Ward School. 

The Board of Regents of the University, in their report for 
the year 1866, say they have purchased the lands adjoining the 
University grounds, some 195 acres, which, with lands now be- 
longing to the institution, 40 and y^^ acres, form one tract with 
an area of 235 acres. These lands were purchased for an experi- 
mental farm, and the funds obtained from the proceeds of bonds 
issued by Dane county to the amount of $40,000, to be devoted 
to this purchase. The Government of the United States having 
in 1862, donated to the State of Wisconsin 240,000 acres of 
land for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts, the in- 
come of a fund to be derived from the sale of these lands, was- 
appropriated to the support of the University. 

Hon. J. L. PiCKAKD was elected President of the University^ 
which position was by him declined, and it was then tendered 
to Prof. P. A. Chadbourne, of Williams College, who also de- 
clined, but reconsidered his decision and entered upon his duties 
in 1867. The value of the University property reported, in- 
cluding the University grounds, agricultural college lands and 
University buildings was $466,709.18. The library contains 
2,600 volumes. 

On the 21st of May, 1866, a contract was made with J. H. Un- 
derwood, for sinking an artesian well in the Capitol Park, 
near the building, with wrought iron tubing, eight inches ex- 
terior, and six inches wide; to be sunk five hundred feet. No 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 3ll 

water was obtained at tliat depth, and the work was contmued 
to the depth of 1,026 feet, or more than 100 feet below the sea 
level, but without success. As will subsequently appear, the 
well was made serviceable and used to great advantage. Of 
this well Maj. H. A. Tej^ney says: It very clearly revealed the 
existence of ancient and intense igneous action beneath, and 
proves that our primary is not only below all other local min- 
eral ranges, but is equally beneath the deepest borings in the 
gypsum and salt beds of Michigan and Illinois, the coal reg- 
ions, and the saline deposits of the great plains, and it is more 
than suspected that it is the central focus of all the deep drain- 
age of this portion of the Continent. 

The celebration of the 90th National Anniversary was a 
great success. One newspaper says: "No celebration ever 
passed off more satisfactorily or more creditably to all con- 
cerned." The stores on the main streets were gaily decorated 
with banners and flags, and at least 20,000 persons were pres- 
ent; 700 came from Janesville; a train of 12 cars, with 700 or 
or 800 from Beloit and way stations. Some 3,000 are presumed 
to have come by the cars. The procession was very large, one 
a procession of battle flags, one hundred and forty in number, 
borne by those who had served under them; a procession of 
Soldiers' Orphans, Engine Companies, etc. Gen. Lysaxi>er 
Cutler was Chief Marshal, and Gen Cassius Fairchild, Mar- 
shal of the Day. The officers of the day were: Hon. L. S. 
Dixon, President; Vice Presidents from Dane county towns; 
Rev. J. L. Maxwell and Prof. J. D. Butler, Chaplains; J. E. 
MuRDOCK, Reader, and Hon. Levi Hubbell, Orator. A pre- 
sentation of the flags to the State was made with address by 
Col. W. P. Lyon, and reply by Gov. Fairchild. The exercises 
were interspersed with readings by Mr. Murdock and singing 
by the soldiers' orphans. 

The city assessor in July, published a statement of the taxes 
of the city — the whole amount, city, state and county, to be 
collected is ^57,760. The total valuation of property, 
82,799,686, a percentage of about two per cent, against two and 
thirty hundredths last year. 



312 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The success of Capt. Barnes' little steamer the Scut, induced 
the owner to build a new one, 50 feet long and Hi wide, cap- 
able of carrying 15 tons and 80 persons. The boat was made at 
IVhitewater, was launched on lake Monona, April IT, and did 
a large and lucrative business. The Captain, with his usual 
foresight, purchased Squaw Point, Lake Monona, and gave it 
the name of " Winnequah," built a large dance room, with re- 
refreshment rooms, a fine bowling alley, and fittted up the 
grounds with swings, etc., making it one of the pleasantest 
spots around Madison for pic-nics. 

Messrs. Young & Bro., built this year on the vacant lot ad- 
joining the one they owned, a block of two stores, 80 feet long 
and 40 feet wide, of cream colored brick, three stories high, the 
third story used as a Masonic Hall. 

The Lake Side Water Cure, on the opposite side of Lake 
Monona, was, in June, remodeled and prepared for a public 
house. It was advertised as capable of accommodating 120 
guests. The building is four stories, and has all the conveni- 
ences of a first class hotel. B. Fkodsham, Esq., was the lessee. 
It soon became known for the beauty of its location, and was 
and is a favorite resort for summer visitors from St. Louis and 
■other localities. 

On the 4th of November, St. Raphael's Church was conse- 
■crated with the imposing ceremonies of the Roman Catholic 
Church. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Henni performed the service, 
and a sermon was delivered by Father Riordai^. The large 
building was filled to its capacity, over 1,000 persons being 
present. The Bishop administered the rite of confirmation to 
^250 persons. 

One of the prominent city improvements, this year, was the 
erection of the Rasdall House on King street. It is a large 
and handsome building, 85 by 75 feet, four stories high, and 
basement, with 72 rooms, and a dining room 58 by 25 feet, 
large rooms for parlor, reading room, saloon, etc. 

Andrew Kentzler completed his large brick stable, one of 
the finest in the State, built of Edgerton brick, and is 74 feet 
hy 66 feet, two stories, which, with the old building connected 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 813 

with it, makes a building 66 by 132 feet — occupying the whole 
lot. 

L. D. Stoke erected a large and elegant dwelling house In 
the Fourth ward, below the depot of the Milwaukee and St. 
Paul Railroad. N. W. Deak, stone barn, 33 by 80 feet, in rear 
of the American Hotel; German Catholic Church, on Johnson 
street, near State street; B. W. Suckow^'s brick dwelling house; 
SoREKSOK & Feedricksok, stone planing mill and sash and 
blind manufactory; and framed dwelling houses erected by S. 
Hegak, C. Heikrichs, J. Y. Smith (double), W. J. Sullivak, 
W. Davidson, W. Deards, Mr. McGoverk, and others. 

In December, the first steam fire engine was received, and 
tried on the shore of Lake Monona, with one thousand feet of 
lose. Steam power was used five minutes after the fire was 
made. The engine was a success every way. 
^ An act of the Legislature, approved April 11, 1867, author- 
izing the Building Commissioners to provide, by contract, 
for the building of the rotunda of the State Capitol, and 
roofing the same, to be completed by Dec. 1 of that year, and 
$85,000 appropriated for that purpose. On the 18th of May, 
the bids that were off'ered were opened, and the contract 
awarded to Wm. Goodekow, for the sum of $83,636. 

The Governor, in his message to the Legislature, January 9, 
1868, recommends an appropriation for the construction of the 
Dome. In the message, he states, '' that the artesian well in 
the park has been sunk to the depth of 980 feet, but, up to 
that date, had not proved a success — that the completion of 
the present contract will leave the well 1,000 feet deep. There 
had been expended upon it $8,622.70. 

In February, of 1867, Rev. Chas. H. Richards was called 
from Kokomo, Ind., to become pastor of the Congregational 
Church, and, on the 10th of March, entered upon his work, in 
which he still continues. From the Church ManuaJ, published 
in 1869, it appears that the church has a membership of 226; 
an admirably manned Sunday School of about 400 members, 
with an average attendance of 260 since the year opened; a 
Ladies' Benevolent Society, worked actively for the poor ; and 
21 



S14 HISTORY OF MADISON AI^D THE 

Ladies' Missionary Society, which raises about $300 for the 
support of a female missionary in India. 

On the 23d January. Hon, A. Vak Wyck delivered an ad- 
dress before the State Historical Society, at the Assembly 
Hall — the first annual address since the society occupied their 
rooms in the Capitol. 

At the spring election for city officers, held in April, Alde^st 
S. San'born* and Jas. K. Peoudfit were the opposing candi- 
dates for Mayor. The former received 856 votes, and the latter 
608; Mr. Sa:n-born- being elected by 248 majority. For City 
Treasurer, Wm. Helms received 579 votes, and Geo. Memhard, 
895, and was elected by 316 majority. The Aldermen elected 
were: 1st ward, Robert Nichols and Sam. Ej^gel; 2d ward, 
A. R. Jones and M. T. Bailey; 3d ward, M. Christophers 
and P. B. Kissam; 4th ward, H. N. MouLTOisr and Simon" 

FOREN. 

The Grace Church (Episcopal) received, in April, their new 
pipe organ, which was the first of the kind introduced in the 
city churches. It has 680 pipes and 20 registers. 

The new steamer, " The City of Madison," was completed 
and placed on Lake Mendota May 15. It has two engines, 6^ 
horse power each, and boiler capable of running a 20-horse 
power engine; is 56 feet long, 13 feet beam, 18 feet across the 
paddle boxes, with a cabin 16 feet by 12. It was built by E. 
& W. Hendricks, and very strongly constructed, and is de- 
signed to run to the Hospital for the Insane, Picnic Point, and 
other places on the lake. This was the first steamer built for 
this lake. 

The Celebration on July 4 was observed in the usual manner, 

* Hon. Alden S. Sanborn was born in the town of Corinth, Orange 
county, Vt., Oct. 2i, 1820; was educated at academies in New England 
and New York; is by profession an attorney. He came to Wisconsin in 
1846, and settled at Milwaukee; was Treasurer of Milwaukee county in 
1849; District Attorney of Brown county in 1851 and 1852, and of Outa- 
gamie county in 1853 ^"^ ^^54; was member of Assembly for the Third 
District of Dane county in 1862, 1863 and 1864, and for the Fifth District 
in 1870; was Mayor of Madison in 1867, and City Attorney in 1869. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 3l5 

with a large gathering of people from the country. J. C. 
Gregory, President; Rev. J. C C. Clarke, Chaplain; Prof. B. 
M. Reyj^olds, Reader; J. M. Bull, Poet; Capt. A. R. iMcDoK- 
ALD, Marshal; Hon. H. S. Orto:^-, Orator. The address of the 
latter was highly spoken of. 

From a published account of the sales of merchants of Madi- 
son, as reported to the. Assessor of Internal Revenue for the 
year ending April 30, 1867, whose sales exceeded $30,000, we 
extract the following: S. Klauber & Co., dry goods, etc., 
$275,000; S. L. Sheldon & Co., agricultural implements, 
$250,000; M. E. Fuller & Co., same, $191,500; J. Lenz & Co^ 
(10 months,) $154,000; Dunning & Sumner, drugs and gro- 
ceries, $105,000; A. FiNDLAY, same, $100,000; Klauber & Ott„ 
groceries, $100,000; Ramsay & Campbell, hardware, $88,000;. 
J. N. Jones, same, $70,250; E. W. Skinner & Co., agricultural 
implements, etc., $77,500. 

From the annual report of the Board of Education, for 
1867, we have the following statistics, and also the improve- 
ments carried forward; 

"The whole number of school children, 3,559; an increase 
of 193 since 1866; number enrolled during the year, 1,626. 
The following is a description of the Second Ward School 
House, which occupies, with its grounds, lots 2, 3 and south- 
west half of 4, in block 138: 

" The grounds have a front of 165 feet on Gorhani street, 
and a depth of about 265 feet to Lake Mendota, upon v/hieh it 
has a border of about 165 feet. This site, which contains Qne 
acre, is well supplied with native forest trees, and cost ^1,650. 

*' The building is 61 feet front by 42 feet deep, with vestibule 
projection of five by twenty feet in front, and eleven by twen- 
ty-six feet in rear. 

'' The basement walls are of stone, laid upon a concrete foun- 
dation, composed of broken stone and cement — are eight feei 
high. The rooms are well lighted, and floored with brick laid 
in cement, upon concrete of gravel and cement, and afford am- 
ple room for furnaces and fuel, as well as play room for pupils; 
in stormy weather. 



316 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

" The building above the basement is constructed of Edger- 
ton brick, with limestone trimmings. It is two stories high, 
with four gables, and a bell tower rising from the centre to the 
height of about 60 feet from the ground, in which is hung a 
600 pound bell. 

" There are four school rooms, each 26 by 34 feet, and 13 feet 
high, capable of furnishing seats for 64 to 72 pupils, with am- 
ple wardroom closets. 

" The exterior woodwork is painted and sanded. The inte- 
rior is grained to represent oak. The rooms are warmed by 
Littlefield's hot air furnaces, and are each furnished with two 
ventilating flues, with iron fan registers, which, with the con- 
veniences for opening windows from top and bottom, it is be- 
lieved will insure complete ventilation. 

"A small room, 10 by 12 feet, on the second floor, may be 
used as a reception room, or for recitations, or as teachers' pri- 
vate room. 

" The water from the roof of the whole building is conducted 
to a cistern under the basement of the rear vestibule, which 
has a capacity of about 250 barrels. 

" The water closets, 18 by 26 feet, are in the rear of the rear 
vestibule, and so constructed as to form part of the building, 
and by means of the cistern the vaults can be frequently 
washed and the contents sluiced into a cesspool some 150 feet 
distant. A ventilating shaft, extending from the vaults to the 
top of the smoke-stack, affords an escape for gasses and foul 
air. 

" The building was erected by contract with W. T. Fish, 
Esq., by whom the mason work was done; the carpenter work 
by Messrs. Sorensoi^ & Fredericksok; the plastering by Messrs. 
E. Sharp & Co.; the tin work and heating apparatus by Messrs. 
Lewis & Allei^, and the painting by Messrs. Pollard & Nel- 
son. The whole work was under the general superintendence 
of L. P. Drake, Esq., and cost $16,000. The architect was G. 
P. Randall, of Chicago." 

The United States Government having purchased the lots on 
the corner of Mifflin street and Wisconsin avenue, for a Court 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCOXSIN. 317 

House and Post Office, the building known as the Catlik 
dwelling house, was removed in July, having been sold to Judge 
E. Wakeley, who had it taken apart and removed to Omaha, 
Nebraska. The first improvements on this corner were a log 
house put up by Joh:n" Catlin", Esq., the first Postmaster, in 
1838, and a two story framed building subsequently added to 
the front, facing the Capitol square. It was a fine building in 
its day, and, after Mr. Catlin's removal, had many occupants, 
among others, N. B. Van Slyke, Esq., Wm. A. Meaes and E. 
W. Keyes. To the elegant and costly structure erected on its 
site, we shall hereafter refer. 

There was a number of important improvements made 
during the year. Among them a fine stone block on Wash- 
ington avenue by Dr. J. B. Bowen, on the ground occupied by 
the Dane county store, the building on which was destroyed by 
fire the year previous. The buildings are sixty-six feet by sev- 
enty feet deep, and extend to the corner of Webster, and pre- 
pared for three stores. The new Lutheran church, corner of 
Washington avenue and West Canal street, a stone building 
thirty by fifty feet; Sharp & Oakley's brick front building 
adjoining the Methodist church on Pinckney street, twenty- 
three by thirty-four feet, two stories; Draper's meat market, 
corner of Miffln and Hamilton streets, brick, twenty-two by 
forty feet; W. J. Sullivan's extension to his block on Pinck- 
ney street; T. O'Neill's Hotel near depot of Milwaukee and 
St. Paul Railroad, two story brick; Geo. Fess, stone barn in 
rear of his boarding house, thirty-five by thirty feet, two sto- 
ries brick, and a large number of framed dwelling houses; S. 
Mills, two story brick store on Main street, near the old post- 
office. 

A meeting was held on the 16th of August to organize an 
association, to be known as the " Wisconsin Academy of Arts 
and Sciences." Nothing however was done until the year 1870, 
when it was organized under a charter by act of legislature, ap- 
proved March 16 of that year. 

The following statistics in part, in regard to the railroad 
business of Madison station during the year 1867, indicates 



318 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

something of the amount of business transacted. Milwaukee 
and Prairie du Chien Railroad: Total tonnage east, 16,495,610 
lbs; west, 5,415,070 lbs; of this amount were 232,904 bushels 
wheat, and 386,500 lbs. dressed hogs sent east. Merchandise 
sent west, 2,143,200 lbs, and agricultural implements, 866,810. 
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad — sent east, 279,167 bush. 
wheat and 638,800 lbs dressed hogs. 

In these statements are omitted minor details of shipments. 

On the 12th September, 1867, the Rev. Hej^ky W. Spald- 
■ ING, of Evansville, Ind., was invited by the Vestry to the 
charge of Grace church, and he entered upon the duties on the 
10th of November following. 

In the year 1868 the basement of the church building was 
floored, plastered, and put in complete order for Sunday school 
and evening services, at an expense of $1,874.49, and in the 
following year the old brick building erected in 1850, and lat- 
terly used as a chapel and Sunday school room, was taken 
down. 

In 1868, the Governor of the State, in his message to the 
Legislature, January 14, 1869, states that the rotunda of the 
State Capitol is now completed, and that a contract was en- 
tered into in May, 1868, with C. S. RAJ^Kii^- & Co., of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, for the erection of the dome for the sum of $90,000, 
the work to be completed on or before December 1, 1869. He 
also states, that when the dome is finished, the capitol will 
have cost $528,315.60. 

The following account of the internal arrangements of the 
State Capitol, is taken from the " Legislative Manual:" 

*' The present capitol exhibits mi attractive outside appear- 
ance, and is generally admired. The stone for its construction 
was supplied from quarries near Prairie du Chien and Madison. 
The inside is handsomely finished, and contains complete con- 
veniences; although more are yet necessary. In the basement 
are the water closets; boiler room, from which the building re- 
ceives heat; carpenter shops; book room; the roost of the war 
eagles, " Old Abe " and " Andy " and some committee rooms. 
On the upper floor, the four passages of which are neatly laid 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 319 

with squares of blue and white flag, are the departments of the 
several state officers. In the north passage are the offices of 
the State Treasurer and School Land Commissioners; in the 
south passage the offices of the Superintendents of Public 
Property and of Public Instruction and the office of Attorney 
General; in the east passage the offices of the Governor and 
Secretary of State, and in the west passage those of the Adju- 
tant General, legislative clerks and State Agricultural Society, 
the last of which contains some fine specimens of minerals and 
other scientific curiosities. From the centre of these passages 
the rotunda and dome are seen to a great advantage. The sec- 
ond floor is reached by wide iron stairways, ascending from the 
south and north passages. This floor is diversely laid with red, 
yellow and black tiles, and in the centre a heavy iron ballus- 
trade marks the rotunda. In the east is the Senate Cham- 
ber; in the west, the Assembly Chamber; in the north, the Su- 
preme Court Rooms and State Library, and in the south, the 
choicely filled rooms of the State Historical Society. The first 
purchase of books for the State Library was made in 1837, and 
it has received additions since, which make it very complete and 
valuable. The Historical Society rooms, always attractive to 
visitors, present an array of books, pictures, sculpture and lit- 
erary and other curiosities which are not only interesting and 
suggestive to Badgers, but to residents of other states. In one 
of these rooms, the torn and pierced flags carried by Wisconsin 
regiments during the late war, are carefully preserved in a 
glass enclosure, and in another room is a rare collection of ani- 
mal, mineral and vegetable curiosities belonging to Mr. Isaac 
Lyon, father of Judge Lyoi^, of the supreme court, and the 
greatest delight of this courteous gentleman is to give all visi- 
tors information concerning them. 

" The collection in these rooms have for years past been re- 
garded as very creditable to the State, and to Hon. Ly^ian C. 
Draper, the patient and persevering originator of them. Mr. 
D. S. DuRRiE, the Librarian, has held that office since January 
1, 1856, and has taken an active part in the management to the 
present time. Since the Chicago fire destroyed the histori- 



320 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

cal depository there, these collections can be recognized as 
the largest and most valuable in the Northwest. 

" More iron stairways lead to the galleries and committee 
rooms of the chambers, and yet more, but narrower ones, lead 
to the store room where the arms and munitions of the state 
are kept and to the tholus; from which topmost elevation 
impressive downward view of the whole rotunda is obtained. 
The outside of the tholus affords convenience for enjoying an 
an exceedingly fine view of the city, lakes and surrounding 
country. 

" The height of the Capitol from the basement to the gold 
gilt eagle on the top of the flag-staff is 225 feet and six inches^ 
and exclusive of steps and porticos, the total length of the 
north and south wings is 228 feet, and of the east and west 
wings, 226 feet. 

" Some impressive scenes have been witnessed in this Capitol 
during the war, when the legislature were acting on war meas- 
ures, and also when the veteran soldiers, on their return, were 
welcomed with song and feasting in the chambers. 

" As characteristic of the vim and energy of the residents of 
Wisconsin, it must be stated that the Capitol building pro- 
gressed and heavy expenditures were made on it, while they 
were sharply pressed to raise their share of men and means for 
the war. 

" The Capitol is surrounded with walks, greenswards, shrub- 
bery and trees, which are carefully kept in good condition, and 
these, with the pearly white building rising in their midst, 
elicit the general expression that Wisconsin has a choicely lo- 
cated and elegant Capitol." 

The election of city officers took place on the 7th of 
April, at which time David Atwood* received 859 votes for 

*Gen. David Atwood was born at Bedford, New Hampshire, December 
15, 1815. At the age of sixteen years, he removed to Hamilton, Madison 
county. New York, and commenced work at a printer's case. After he 
became a master of his craft, he traveled extensively through the southern 
and western states for nearly three years, most of which time he was- 
engaged in the printing business. In 1839 he returned to Hamilton, New 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 321 

Mayor, and Wm, T. Leitcii 853 votes, the former was elected. 
For Treasurer, Jas. Conklin received 1,016 votes, and Chas. 
Hammer 684; Mr. Conklin's majority 332. For Police Justice^ 
J. R. Baltzell received 897 votes, and J. C. McKenney 807; 
Mr. Baltzell's majority 90. The following were elected 
Aldermen: First ward, S. Engel and A. McGovern; Second 
ward, R. Wootton and H. Steensland; Third ward, Ole 
Thompson and P. B. Kissam; and Fourth ward, L. D. Stone 
and A. S. Frank. 

On the 27th of May, the corner stone of the new United 
States Court House was laid with appropriate Masonic cere- 
monies, by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. 
Addresses were made by Gov. Fairchild, President P. A. 
Chadbourj^e and others. 

On the 31st of May, the German Lutheran church, on Wash- 
ington avenue and West Canal street, was dedicated. This 
church was organized in 1856, and in 1858 the congregation 
built a small meeting house on Main street, near the depot 
of the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad. This build- 
ing was occupied by them until the last year, when the present 
edifice was erected. It is 32 by 60 feet, 20 feet high, with a 
belfry. The building is wood and cost about $3,000. At the 
dedication service, Prof. S. Fritschell of St. Sebald, Iowa, 
Rev. J. Hauser of Cottage Grove, and Rev. H. Vogel, the 
Pastor, delivered addresses. 

York, and commenced the publication of a weekly newspaper called the 
Palladium^ in conjunction with his brother. In 1859 ^"^^ came to the Avest 
and located a farm near the city of Freeport, Illinois, which he soon after 
disposed of, and removed to Madison, Wisconsin. He became connected 
with the Madison Express and remained with it until the fall of 1852, 
when he commenced the publication of the Daily State JotiryiaU which he 
has ever since published ; in its early management he was associated 
with Hon. Horace Rublee, now United States Minister to Switzerland. 

Gen. Atwood was a member of the legislature in i860, and was appointed 
United States Assessor when that office was first created. In 1868 he held 
the office of Mayor of the City of Madison. On the decease of Hon. B. F. 
Hopkins, Member of Congress, Gen. Atwood was elected to fill his unex- 
pired term of office. 



'322 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

There was no celebration of the national anniversary by the 
xsivil authorities this year. There was a large gathering of 
.people from the country to attend a circus performance. The 
patriotism of the day seemed confined to the younger portion of 
the community, who indulged largely in fire crackers and 
small artillery. 

The City Assessor published in August, a statement of the 
valuation of taxable property as follows : Real estate, $2,733,179 ; 
personal property, 11,356,745.67, being an increase of one mil- 
lion of dollars since the last year. 

The report of the Board of Education, for 1868, shows the 
whole number of persons of school age, 3,485; whole number 
enrolled since September 2, 1867, 2,087. The expenses of the 
city schools for the year were, 134,815.58, which amount was 
for school furniture, repairs, supplies and teachers' salaries. 

The amount of taxes levied for city, state, county and school 
purposes this year, was 188,412.81; in addition to which is 
^6,000 indebtedness to Madison Driving Park Association, and 
a bonus to the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad of 
$25,000, for the completion of the road from Madison to Sun 
Prairie, making the whole amount 1119,412.81 — a tax of two 
,and eight tenths per cent, on the valuation. 

J AS. M. Sumner, this year, raised a three story building on 
Main street, between Pinckney and Henry streets, 22 by 132 
feet, and SiMEOi^ Mills erected a fine block of stores on Main 
street, ^^ feet by 80, on the site of his former residence. 

The following exhibit shows the gross amount of sales of 
ihe leading business firms in the city of Madison, as returned 
to Assessor Maij^, for the year ending April 30, 1868. None 
are included whose sales have not exceeded 125,000. Consider- 
ing the great depression in the value of merchandise the past 
lyear, and especially in dry goods and clothing, this list is a 
very creditable one, and in the aggregate quite largely exceeds 
the sales of 1866-7, and especially so in agricultural imple- 
ments, the sales in this department reaching $900,000, none 
.of which were manufactured here except those sold by E. W. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 323 

Skinker & Co. Deputy Assessor Maiis" estimates the aggre- 
gate of sales during the year in the city at $3,500,000: 

S. L. Sheldon & iJro., agricultural implements, - - - $350, 000 

M. E. Fuller & Co., agricultural implements, - - - 345, 000 

S. Klauber & Co., dry goods and clothing, - - - - 260,300 

J. Lenz & Co., dry goods and clothing, .... 127,000 

Alex. Findley, groceries and drugs, - - - - - - 105,200 

S. Klauber, King street, groceries, 95, 500 

Wayne Ramsay & Co., hardware, 95,009 

Dunning & Sumner, groceries and drugs, .... 93, 500 

L. P. & M. P, Jerdee, agricultural implements, - - - 87,000 

McKey Bros. & G. H. Folds, dry goods, .... 73,300 

John N. Jones, hardware, ^^' 300 

J. L. Bartels, dry goods, 52,OOo 

H, Steensland, groceries, 46,000 

W. J. & F. Ellsworth, groceries, 45,000 

J. W. Sumner & Co., groceries and drugs, nine months, . - 45 ,000 

Geo. Paine, groceries and drugs, 41,000 

M. L. Daggett, groceries. 39,000 

Huntley & Taft (now G. W. Huntley) groceries, . - - 36,000 

Moseley & Bro., books, 36, 000 

E. B. Crawford, clothing, 45,000 

M. Friend, clothing, 42,090 

J. M. Dickinson, dry goods, ' 42, 000 

Gray & Co., coal, salt, etc., 50,000 

E. W. Skinner «fc Co., agricultural implements, - . - 60,000 

The city election of 1869, came ofP April 9. There was no 
regularly nominated candidate for Mayor made by the Repub- 
licans. The vote for that office was 1,350 for Andrew Proud- 
riT, * and 145 for Elisha Burdick. For Treasurer Frank 

* Hon. Andrew Proudflt, was born in Argyle, Washington county, New 
York, in August, 1820. He came to the Territory of Wisconsin in June, 
1842, and took possession of some lands in Brookfield, then in Milwaukee 
-county on the Rock river canal reservation, which was not then in the 
market. He cleared 60 acres for cultivation, part of which was heavy tim- 
ber, set out an orchard and built a barn. This property he sold in 1847. 
Mr. Proudfit removed to Milwaukee, and was bookkeeper for Shepard & 
Bonnell from 1844 to 1846. He then went to Delafield, where he improved 
a large tract of land and built a mill. He carried on a. large business at 



324 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Massing received 714 votes, and Willam Habich 784, who was 
elected by 70 majority. The aldermen elected were, Geo. An- 
derson and D. K. Tenney, 1st ward; M. T. Bailey and A. R. 
Jones, 2d ward; H. Winokler and J. M. Bowman, 3d ward; 
Peter Young and Simon Foren, 4tl: ward. Hon. L. S. Dixon 
received 1011 votes for Judge of Supreme Court, and Geo. E. 
Bryant 1018 votes for County Judge. 

The expenses of the city for the past year were 126,919.26, 
and the bonded indebtedness $254,000 — The assessed value of 
personal property, 13,839,502. 

In the month of May, the section of railroad between Madi- 
son and Sun Prairie was finished, thereby shortening the dist- 
ance to Milwaukee twenty miles, and bringing Madison in con- 
nection with Watertown and points east. The first passenger 
train arrived here from Milwaukee May 22. 

that place for six years. In 1852 he was elected Commissioner of the Fox 
and Wisconsin River Improvement, and was re-elected in 1853. During 
that year the works were transferred by the State to a stock company, and 
he closed the business and was engaged the remainder of that season in 
building three miles of the Milwaukee and Watertown railroad, under a 
sub-contract. In the year 1854, he built the south Aving of the State Prison 
at Waupun, and completed the same in October of that year. In Novem- 
ber, 1854, ^6 took the contract for building the State Lunatic Asylum at 
Madison, and had expended over $19,000 on the same, when the Legisla- 
ture repudiated the contract. By act of the legislature the matter was 
settled by a board of arbitrators. In 1855 he disposed of his unsold prop- 
erty at Delafield by exchange with Beriah Brown of Madison. In the 
year 1858 and 1859 he represented the Madison district in the State Sen- 
ate. In 1864, he built the north wing of the State Capitol, and laid the 
foundation to the rotunda and south wing. In the year 1867 he built and 
completed the last two wings of the State Lunatic Asylum at Madison. 
In the spring of 1869, he was elected Mayor of the city, and was re-elected 
in 1870 by large majorities. During the war he had a number of contracts 
for subsistence and other supplies for Wisconsin soldiers. He has also 
been connected with one of the largest agricultural implement houses 
in the State since 1862. 

Mr. Proudfit is Vice President of the First National Bank in Madi- 
son, and is regarded as one of the most successful business men 
in the city. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 325 

The Roman Catholic Church, known as the '' Church of the 
Holy Redeemer," was formally dedicated on the 22d of May by 
Rt. Rev. Bishop HENisri. The exercises were very impressive, 
twelve priests assisted in the service. This church was organ- 
ized in 1855 with some forty families, and has at this date about 
two hundred and fifty members. The building is of Madison 
stone, 125 feet long, 52 feet wide and 40 feet high. The main 
audience room is 30 feet at the sides, and 36 feet at the top of 
the arched ceiling in height, tower 160 feet high. The cost of 
the building is about $25,000. In the afternoon the Bishop ad- 
ministered the right of confirmation to 102 persons. During 
a severe storm in the year 1871, the steeple was so much in- 
jured as to require its removal; a new and more architectural 
one is to be erected. 

The anniversary of National Independence was not formally 
observed by the citizens or authorities. Celebrations were held 
at Mazomaine and Middleton station in this county. The an- 
niversary this year came on Sunday, and as a consequence Sat- 
turday, Sunday and Monday were more or less observed by the 
different nationalities as a holiday on Saturday, the Dane 
County Stock Association had a fair, which, with races adver- 
tized in connection with it, drew a large crowd. The sermons 
by the city clergymen on the 4th, were of a highly patriotic 
character. 

We do not find notices of as many improvements in the city 
this year as some others. Billii^gs & Firmin- built their Mad- 
ison Plow Factory on Webster street, of stone, two stories 
in height, 50 by^^feet. This establishment has been very 
successful and the excellence of their plows has achieved for 
them a wide reputation. 

The small brick chapel on Washington avenue, which had 
been occupied by the P. Episcopal Church as a house of wor- 
ship, was demolished in the summer. 

From the report of the Board of Education for 1869, it ap- 
pears that the city schools afforded facilities for 1125 pupils — 
the whole number of students enrolled since September 2, 
1868, 2,080. Students in attendance at the making of the re- 



326 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

port, 969. Number of children of school age, 3,640. The Su- 
perintendent of Schools refers to the necessity of the immediate 
erection of the University Avenue school house, which had 
been prominently brought before the public. 

SiMEOiT Mills erected this year one of the finest residences 
in the city, on Wisconsin Avenue, near Lake Monona, Q6 feet 
on the avenue and 75 deep, of cream colored brick, witlx 
Mansard roof, etc. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCOXSIX. 827 



CHAPTER IX. 

Efforts to Remove the State Capital — Notice of Col. Bird — 
History of Grace Church, continued — Park Hotel Com- 
pany — University Ward School House — " State Journal "' 
Reminiscences — Public Improvements, 1870-4 — Female Col» 
LEGE — Schools — National Anniversary — Railroad Enter- 
prises — The Messersmith House — Yacht and Boat Clubs — 
Notice of John Stoner — Presbyterian Church Improve- 
ments — Methodist Episcopal Church — Artesian Well — ^ 
High School Building — Elections, 1870-4 — Grace Church 
Chimes — Congregational Church Building — Dane County 
Cave — Conclusion. 

At tlie session of the State Legislature, held in 1870, a vig- 
orous effort was made by the citizens of Milwaukee to remove 
the seat of government from Madison to Milwaukee. Similar 
efforts had been made from the very first session of the Terri- 
torial Legislature, in 1836. On the 19th of February (1870), a 
bill was introduced for this purpose, and referred to the com- 
mittee on State Affairs, which was reported back unfavorably. 
In the report, the committee referred to the want of hotel ac- 
commodations for the large number of persons visiting the 
capital during the sessions of the Legislature, but saw no good 
reasons, after the State had expended so large an amount in the 
erection of the present building, to make a change. On the 
28th of February, a memorial was received from the citizens of 
Milwaukee, making a formal tender to the State, and free occu-^ 
pancy of the extensive and costly buildings now in process of 
erection for the County Court House, to be constructed in their 
interior arrangements under the supervision of the State; the 
property occupying the whole of block 71 in the city of Mil- 
waukee. To this memorial the Board of Supervisors assented. 

The bill in the Assembly came up for action on the evening: 
of March 9, in committee of the whole, when a long and ex- 
citing debate took place on the merits of the proposed removal,- 
The bill was reported back to the Assembly, with an amend- 



328 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

meiit striking out all after the enacting clause, when a motion 
was made that the bill be indefinitely postponed, which mo- 
tion prevailed, the vote being 55 in the affirmative and 31 in 
the negative. 

Soon after the adjournment of the Legislature, a meeting 
was called of the prominent citizens of the city to organize 
the ''Park Hotel Company," which was chartered by an act 
of the Legislature, approved March 18.. Several meetings 
were held, and propositions made for a site for the proposed 
building. The lots on the southeast corner of the public 
square, corner of Carroll and Main streets, were purchased of 
N. W. Dean-, Esq., the company organized, and stock sub- 
scribed to an amount sufficient to erect the building. The 
work was commenced and continued during the winter, and 
the house ready for occupancy in 1871. A description of this 
elegant building will hereafter be given. 

On the 25th of February, 1870, one of the first and most 
noted settlers of Madison paid the debt of nature. On that 
day. Col. Augustus A. Bird died very suddenly at the residence 
of his son-in-law, Mr. John Starkweather, in Green Bay, in 
the 68th year of his age. He was apparently in good healthy 
and had, less than an hour before, walked home from town, 
and was sitting at the table, when his head suddenly dropped 
forward, and he was dead. He is supposed to have died from 
the effects of cancers, of which he had several near the heart. 

Col. Bird was born on the 1st day of April, 1802, in the 
State of Vermont. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Bur- 
go yne, who was a nephew of Gen. Burgoyne, of the British 
army. When three years of age, Mr. Bird's father, with his 
family, moved from Vermont, and settled in Madison county, 
N. Y. In April, 1824, he was married, in the town of West- 
moreland, N. Y., to Miss Charity Le Clar, who was a 
daughter of Louis Le Clar, a Frenchman. In 1826, Mr. 
Bird moved with his family to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he 
remained over two years, and moved back to Madison county, 
N. Y. 

In 1836, he located at Milwaukee, and there engaged ener- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 329 

getically in tlie business of building. He was appointed one of 
the three commissioners for the erection of the Territorial 
Capitol at Madison, and was the active and efficient man of 
the Board. On the first day of June, 1837, Col. Bird, at the 
head of about forty workmen, and a train of four wagons, 
loaded with provisions, tools, and other articles essential in 
commencing a new settlement, started for " The Four Lakes," 
the present site of Madison. There was then no road, and 
the party were obliged to make one for themselves. By the 
aid of an old map and compass, by perseverance and energy, 
Col. Bird and his party were enabled to pursue their route, 
chopping their way through the forests, building long cordu- 
roy roads over swamps, and fording or bridging streams. 

As a more particular account has been given in the former 
part of this volume of this journey to Madison, and the inci- 
dents connected with the history of the building of the " old 
capitol," it is not necessary to be repeated. 

In 1851 and 1856, he was chosen to represent the Madison 
district in the legislature, and served the city as one of its ear- 
liest Mayors, and became well known to all early prominent 
men of the Territory and State. In the prime of life, he was a 
man of much energy, and was well fitted by his har- 
dihood of character for a pioneer. He passed through many 
hardships and privations. Long will his tall, commanding 
form be remembered. We trust that his old pioneer associates 
will see that a portrait of him is secured and preserved in the 
gallery of the Historical Society. Colonel Bird leaves a wife, 
also several children, who have reached mature years and in dif- 
ferent walks of life — three sons in connection with newspapers 
in this State and elsewhere, have attained positions of useful- 
ness and prominence. 

At a meeting of Grace church, held on the 28th of February, 
1870, it was resolved to proceed as soon as practicable to the 
completion of the tower and steeple of the church; and at a 
subsequent meeting, a building committee was appointed, con- 
sisting of Messrs. D. Worthixgtox, A. Proudfit and W. T. 
Leitch. 

32 



330 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

The funds for this purpose were soon after raised, and the 
work was finished during the year, and the building made com- 
plete by a graceful spire 165 feet in height. The subsequent 
history of this church to the year 1874 is as follows : 

In the summer of 1872, the church was thoroughly reno- 
vated, the walls replastered and painted; the pulpit removed, 
and a new one put in its place, the pews varnished and the 
aisles newly carpeted. 

On the 10th of February, 1873, the rector Rev. Dr. Spald- 
iis^G* having been invited to another field of labor, tendered his 
resignation, which was accepted with deep regret. 

In his farewell discourse he gave some statistics of the church, 
and of his labors in the vicinity, which are here given for pres- 
ervation: 

" He entered, he said, upon his duties as their Rector on the 
10th of November, 1867, and found, as the results of previous 
labor and faith, the church with its organ and furniture, though 
without a tower or spire, or its present commodious Sunday 
school rooms. 

" The Parish Register, dated from une 13, 1852, and reported 
up to the time of his rectorship — 15 j^ears: 

'"' Baptisms — Infants, 272, adults, 41; total, 313, or an average 
of , more than 20 a year. Of these, some were administered at 
Blooming Grrove, some at Vienna, a number at Middleton, and 
a large number are recorded as private. 

*Rev. Henry W. Spalding, D. D., is a son of Rev. Erastiis Spalding of 
Western New York, and was born at Rochester, April 14, 1833. 

He was graduated at Hobart College, Seneca, in 1855, and removed to 
Milwaukee, and was nearly six years in charge of the 6th Ward School 
as Principal, prosecuting his studies for the ministry under J. P. T. In- 
graham. In 1858, he was made a Deacon, and took charge of the Mis- 
sion church in Milwaukee. He removed to Janesville ; was ordained 
President and took charge of Christ church at that place. After a resi- 
dence of five years, he traveled one year, and was subsequently at White- 
water and at Evansville, Ind., where he labored three years. He accepted 
the call to Grace church, and entered on his duties November 10, 1867. 
He resigned February 10, 1873, and is now settled at Pittsburgh, Pa. In 
July, 1870, he received from his college at Seneca, the degree of Doctor 
of Divinity. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 331 

"The Confirmations are: Men, 21; women, 103; total, 124 — 
an average of a little more than eight a year; some from Mid- 
dleton and some from Windsor. Marriages during that time, 
124; burials, 142. 

" The Communion Alms amount to 13,451.41, an average from 
1855 to 1867 of 1245 per year. 

" He regretted the imperfect record and loss of papers concern- 
ing the work of his predecessors, and said that much in the past^ 
of self denial and earnest hard work for Christ would be lost till 
the great day shall make manifest the deeds of God's servants. 

'' The summary, he continued, of our five years' work together 
is as follows: 

"Baptisms — of infants, 202; adults, 106; total, 308; an aver- 
age of a little less than 60 a year. Confirmations, 270; 13 of 
which were at Vienna; 7 at Middleton; and 23 at Evansville; 55 
were males. Marriages, 49. Burials, 64. Communicants, 260 
or 270. Families about 120. Offertory, $12,680.68; expenses 
about $15,000; the other moneys received, making a total of 
$30,000. Five missions have been built up. Five clergymen 
have taken orders, and six are now candidates for orders. There 
are three working organizations under the Diocesan Board of 
Missions." 

June 19, 1873, the Vestry unanimously resolved to call Rev- 
John" Wilkikson", of Chicago, who accepted the invitation, and 
entered upon his duties July 13. 

The city election took place April 5, 1870. There was no 
candidate put in nomination against Hon. Andrew Proudfit 
for Mayor, who received 1164 votes. 104 votes scattering. 
For Police Justice D. C. Bush received 487 votes, and John R. 
Baltzell 1067, who was elected by 580 majority. For Treasurer 
Andrew Pick arts received 796 votes, and P. D. Barry, 761. 
Mr. PicKARTs' majority 35. The following were the aldermen 
elected: 1st ward, F. Daubxer and F. O'Brien; 2d ward, 
W. Deards and A. Daubner; 3d ward J. M. Bowman and W. 
H. Karnes; 4th ward, James Ross and T. O'Neil. 

From the office of United States Internal Revenue at Mad« 
ison, it appears that the sales of all the dealers in agricultural 



332 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

implements for the year ending April 1, 1870, aggregate 
^1,468,000; the firm of M. E. Fuller & Co., report sales to the 
amount of 1778,000, three firms return sales of over 1100,000, 
and the remainder, range from 110,000 to 180,000. 

The United States census was taken this year, and we find 
the population of the city reported as 9,173, and the town of 
Madison, 857. The county of Dane 53,109. The value of city 
property as equalized by the county board of supervisors in 
June, was, real estate, $2,500,000; personal, 11,260,018, and the 
town of Madison, 170,000. 

In connection with the above statistics as illustrating the 
healthfulness of Madison, the interments in the '' Forest Hill 
Cemetery " for the year ending March 31, 1870, were seventy- 
one. Very few localities can make so good a report. 

There was no formal celebration on Independence Day. 
Meetings were had before that date to make arrangements for 
a proper celebration, but subscriptions were not received to 
warrant the carrying out the plan. There was, however, a good 
number of persons from the country towns. The Zouave Com- 
pany, recently organized, had a public parade and drill. Races 
were held at the Driving Park. Fireworks at the Soldiers' Or- 
phans' Home. In the afternoon there was a burlesque proces- 
sion with reversed arms to satirize the omission of a regular 
celebration. 

Orations were delivered at the following places by citizens of 
Madison: Oconomowoc, by Hon. Geo. B. Smith; Watertown, 
by Hon. H. S. Orton; Portage City, by S. U. Pinney, Esq.; 
Richland Centre, by Hon. Jas. Ross. 

From the annual report of the Board of Education for the 
year 1870, the following statistics have been obtained: The 
number of persons of school age, 3,958. Number of pupils en- 
rolled from August 31, 1869, to July 18, 1870, 1,992; present 
number of members 956. The Board has in its possession eight 
school house sites, valued at $14,900; eight school buildings 
with furnaces, and seating, valued at not less than 170,000, with 
a librar}^, melodeon, apparatus, maps, globes, charts and books of 
reference, valued at $700. During the year the Board pur- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 333 

chased a site for a school house in the University Addition, 
known as lots 7, 8 and 9, in block 2, situated on the northwest 
corner of Park and Johnson streets, 165 feet on the former and 
about 24:0 feet on the latter street, at a cost of one thousand 
dollars. f 

Plans and specifications for the building were prepared by G. 
P. Randall, architect, Chicago; the precise character, of which 
was settled upon in Februar}^ last. Immediately thereafter, 
proposals for the construction of the building complete were 
invited by the committee, and a contract was made with Messrs. 
Fish & Stevens for the construction of the building in accord- 
ance with the plan and specifications, under the supervision of 
H. N. MouLTON, Esq., to be completed on or before Decem- 
ber 25, 1870, for the sum of $14,829. 

Work was commenced about April 1st, and pushed with such 
vigor, that the greater part was done about November 1st. 

The building is 60 feet fronting on Johnson street, by 40 
feet deep, with front vestibule projecting three feet from the 
line of the building, and about twenty feet in length, and rear 
vestibule for entrance and stairway 16x18 feet. 

The building has four school rooms, each about 25x34 feet 
and 14 feet high — front stairway to the second story 5 feet 4 
inches wide, and rear stairway of about equal width. A base- 
ment the full size of the building, floored with hard brick, laid 
in concrete, furnishes room for storage of fuel, sufficient to sup- 
ply the three furnaces designed to warm the entire building, 
and which can be used as play rooms in stormy weather. 

Special reference to the suitable warming and complete ven- 
tilation of the school rooms was had in view, and it is believed 
we have in this building one of the most conveniently arranged 
and best ventilated school houses in the state, with capacity to 
seat about 270 pupils. This building was erected the ensuing 
year. 

In the '' State Journal of September 13, 1870, Gen. David 
Atwood gives an interesting account of the history of the pub- 
lication of that paper, it being at that time eighteen years since 
the publication of the first number. Owing to the length of 



334 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

the article, we can only give some extracts: " In 1847, the of- 
fice was in the basement of a brick house that stood upon the 
site now occupied (1870), by Moseley & Bros., F. D. Fuller 
and Geo. W. Gilman. The house was unfinished at that time. 
Between that and the old American Hotel there was nothing; 
and on the site of the present '^ State Journal Block," which is 
now in the heart of the business portion of the city, there was 
a thick growth of native trees. Our next move was into a 
small house that stood upon the site where Bemis' meat market 
is now standing. During the year 1850, Wm. C Wells, whom 
many of our older citizens well remember, erected the store 
recently occupied as the postoffice. It was known as the 
" Mammoth Block,'''' and was considered in the outskirts of civi- 
ilization, in the city. It was in the woods. On the 1st of 
January, 1851, we took possession of the third story of that 
*' Mammoth Building," and were ridiculed for having our print- 
ing office out of town. After occupying this position for a 
year and a half, we had to look for new quarters. Messrs. 
Weed & Eberhard had just removed a small one story build- 
ing from King street to the site of Jas. W. Sumner's new 
store on Main street, and were fitting it up for a book store. 
They proposed to raise the roof and add a second story to this 
building, provided we would occupy it for a printing office. We 
accepted the offer, and from that little room, about 15 feet by 
30, and seven feet high, which was used as a composing room, 
press room, business room, and editorial room, the first number 
of the Daily Journal was issued, eighteen years ago. 

In 1853, '' Bruen's Block " was erected, and on the 1st day 
of January, 1854, the State Journal took quarters in the fourth 
story, with an editorial and business room on the second floor. 
In 1857, a power press was added to the establishment, and oc- 
cupied a basement room on Washington avenue for its use. On 
the 1st day of May, 1860, the office was located in the block on 
the corner of Pinckney and Mifflin streets. 

In September, 1870, the office was removed, as we trust per- 
menently, to a stone block erected the present season on Wash- 
ington avenue, which will hereafter be as known the " State 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WIS CONS IK. 335 

Journal Block." Our present rooms have been fitted up ex- 
pressly for our use, and every tiling has been adjusted with a 
view to make a pleasant and agreeable printing office in all of 
its appointments. 

The following is a brief account of the rooms : A basement 
room for the power presses, 66 by 22 feet, the boiler room is 
outside, with coal vault, etc.; on the first floor, are our business 
rooms, occupying 20 feet front, and conveniently fitted up. On 
the second floor are the editorial rooms, large, light and pleas- 
ant. On the third floor is the composing room occupying the 
entire story, 66 by 60 feet in size. 

The public improvements of Madison in 1870, were numer- 
ous and valuable. Fisher & REYisroLDS, furniture dealers, 
erected a fine building of Edgerton brick, on the corner of 
Pinckney and Clymer streets, 44 by 66 feet and 35 feet high, 
which cost about 17,000. Dr. J. B. BowEif enlarged his stone 
block on Wisconsin avenue, by an addition 66 feet by 60, three 
stories high, to be used in part by Atwood & Culver as a 
printing office, and is known as the State Journal Block. Cost 
about $12,000. Adjoining this block, J. N. Jois^ES erected a 
building 22 by 60 feet, uniform with those connected with it, 
making the whole block 154 feet front on Washington avenue, 
and 60 feet deep, three stories high. 

Prof. J. W. Sterling built a fine dwelling of Watertown 
brick on State street, near the State University, at a cost of 
about $6,000. Prof. S. H. Carpenter, on block 80, Wisconsin 
avenue, built a brick dwelling. T. E. Bird put up a brick 
building, 22 by 66^ three stories, on Main street, costing 
$5,000. W. J. Sullivan's block, on Carroll street, which was 
destroyed by fire the year previous, was rebuilt and enlarged. 

The legislature of 1870, appropriated $50,000 for the erection 
of a Female College building — the first instance of an appro- 
priation by the state for University buildings. With this 
amount, the Regents have built, during the year 1871, a fine 
stone structure 50 by 75 feet, with a wing 40 by 87 feet, all 
three stories high, and basement. It is provided with porticos, 
piazza, and ample halls and recitation rooms; the conveniences 



336 HISTORY OF MADISON A:SD THE 

of water distribution, closets, furnaces, laundry, cooking range, 
etc. The basement arranged for domestic uses. The building 
was entirely completed, everything included, plans, specifica- 
tions, wells, cisterns, and building, at a cost of 146,570.36, 
leaving in the hands of the treasurer $3,429.64, which has been 
used in partially providing suitable furniture. The building 
for military drill and gymnastic purposes, was completed this 
year, as also the laboratory for analytical chemistry and metal- 
lurgy. The Universit}' grounds have been very much improved 
by cleaning up, opening roadways and putting out trees, and 
the older buildings have been generally repaired, painted, etc. 

The spring election for city officers was a spirited one. For 
the office of Mayor, Dr. James B. BowEJ>r* and W. T. Leitch 
were opposing candidates. The latter received 752 votes, and 
the former 805, who was elected by 53 majority. For Treasur- 
er, Myroit T. Bailey received 713 votes, and John Lewis, 862; 
the latter had a majority of 149. The Aldermen elected were: 
Hei!^ry Vilas and Jas. Cokklin, 1st ward; A. Daubner and 
C. P. Chapman-, 2d ward; J. G. Ott and W. H. Earns, 3d 
ward; Thos. Dean and Estes Wilson, 4th ward. 

The assessed valuation of city property, as published Aug. 
30, by N. L. Andrews, Assessor, was, personal property, 
$1,328,537; real estate, $2,757,704; total, $4,086,241. 

From the report of the Board of Education, for 1871, it ap- 
pears that the whole number of students enrolled from Sep- 
tember 5, 1870, to July 1, 1871, was 2,437; number in attend- 
ance at time of making report, 1,134. Total amount of ex- 
penditures for the year, $29,149.56. During the year, a building 
was erected in the northeast district, of wood enclosed with 

* Dr. James B. Bowen is a son of Jabez Bowen, a native of Rhode Isl- 
and. He was born at Killingly, Conn., Aug. 19, 1816. Before removing 
west he was engaged in the cotton manufacture, and carried on mills at 
Stafford and Woodstock, Conn. ; Warren, Mass., and at Rochester, N. Y, 
He subsequently studied medicine, and graduated in 184S, at Central Col- 
lege, and commenced practicing his profession at Providence, R. I., where 
he remained four years, when he removed to Madison, Wis., and has made 
it his residence to the present time. He was elected Mayor m the spring 
of 1871. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 337 

brick walls, one story high, 26 by 42 feet, with school room of 
size to seat comfortably 65 scholars, and cost about $2,300, 
Extensive repairs were made on first and third ward school- 
houses. 

The celebration of the 4:th of July, 1871, was the most sat- 
isfactory one which had taken place for a number of years, 
with the exception of the sad accident which cost the life of 
one of our citizens, the cause of which was the premature dis- 
charge of the gun. One of the men in charge was terribly 
mangled, losing both of his arms. The name of the unfortu- 
nate man was JoHjq- B^tz, one of the employes of the State. 
He died the day following. The following persons were the 
officers of the day: President, Hon. Dayid Atwood; Orator j 
Hon. Chas. E. Dyer, of Racine; Reader, Col. W. F. Vilas; 
Chaplain, Rev. Dr. H. W. Spalding. The procession, under 
direction of Hon. E. B. Deai^, with his assistants, passed 
through the principal streets to the park, where the exercises 
were held. In the afternoon, a yacht race came off on Lake 
Monona, in which fifteen boats participated; and, subsequently, 
a race between the shell boats "Lady Fairchild" and "Kegon- 
sa." Among other amusements, was a tub-race of three six- 
geese teams; each tub was enclosed in a snow-shoe-shaped float, 
and the geese attached thereto by red ribbons tied to their 
wings. In the evening a display of fireworks completed the 
celebration. 

The railroad enterprises of this year opened up to Madison 
two new outlets, and to a section of country that had long 
needed railroad facilities. Through the indefatigable efi'orts of 
Hon. Jas. Campbell, the road to Portage City was completed 
the first week in January, 1871, and the first train arrived here 
on the 9th. This road is proposed to be extended to Grand 
Rapids and other points north as soon as possible, and, in con- 
nection therewith, a road to be built south to the Illinois State 
line, to connect with roads in that State. The other line of 
road runs northwest through Lodi, near Devil's Lake, and 
to Baraboo, and is to be extended to the Mississippi river and 
other points. The road was completed to Baraboo and a cele- 



338 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

bration was held at that place September 12. Both of these 
roads have been well patronized, and, in the summer season, 
the attractions of DeviPs Lake and the Bluffs bring a large 
number of visitors from St. Louis, Cincinnati and other locali- 
ties, to spend a part of the season there. 

The Park Hotel, which was commenced in 1870, was com- 
pleted, furnished and opened to the public in August, 1871. 
The following is a description of this elegant building, one 
.of the handsomest of the kind in Wisconsin, if not the most 
costly: 

" The location of the Hotel is on the corner of Main and Car- 
roll streets, or directly opposite the south corner of the Capitol 
Park. The ground upon which it stands is several feet higher 
than that upon which the State Capitol stands, and higher 
than any other point between Lakes Mendota and Monona. 
Its size is 116 feet upon Carroll street, fronting the Capitol 
Park, and 99 feet upon Main street. It is built of Milwaukee 
•pressed, cream colored brick, with trimmings of the best of 
Madison stone, which makes a wall the most pleasing to the 
eye of anything used for this purpose; is four stories high, 
with Mansard roof of elaborate finish. On nearly the entire 
front on Carroll street, or towards Capitol Park, is a broad 
two-story piazza. This front is to the northeast, where the 
sun only strikes it for a few hours in the morning, just when it 
is needed to dry it, thus rendering it one of the pleasantest 
places for recreation in warm weather that can be found. 
Upon Main street, also, a balcony runs along a portion of the 
.building. The piazza is covered with a roof, and supported 
with light columns or pillars. The exterior of the building 
presents a most pleasing appearance, and is greatly admired by 
all who see it. In it there is no attempt at show, but there 
has been a neatness of design and execution that is very 
marked; and the result is a building of exquisite beauty and 
taste in its external appearance. 

"Elegant and tasteful, however, as is the external appear- 
ance of this charming hotel, it is only an indication of its in- 
ternal arransrement and finish. Much attention has been be- 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 339 

.stowed upon tlie plan of the house, with a view to its conveni- 
-ence in every respect. Differing from most hotels in cities, this 
building is wholly used for the convenience of guests. The 
lower, and of course the best, story is not devoted to stores or 
other business uses, but the entrance to the office of the hotel 
is upon the corner of the first story. This room, or office, is 
large, and presents a very inviting appearance to the weary 
traveler as he enters it; and, to add to the attractions of the 
first entrance, there are two large and airy parlors adjoining 
the office, to be used for writing, or for conversational pur- 
poses. This is a remarkably pleasant feature of the house, and 
one that must give special satisfaction to guests. There is still 
another large room designed for a reading apartment. The 
dining rooms, large and elegant, and ball room, are also upon 
the first floor. But we need not particularize. It is enough 
to say, that this floor is devoted to the convenience of the ho- 
tel, and they are many and elegant. 

"In the second story are the parlors, and numerous suites of 
Tooms designed for families, fitted up with all the modern im- 
provements. This arrangement prevails throughout the house. 
All the rooms are pleasant and conveniently arranged. The 
Tiews from them are those of surpassing beauty. On the one 
side we have a glimpse of the lake, with the finest landscape in 
the distance; on the other, the Capitol Park, the best business 
streets in the city, and so on, taking in a great variety of the 
most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in this country. 
We venture the opinion, that no house in the west, or in the 
•east either, can produce so many rooms from which are so 
many magnificent landscape views, as are to be found in the Park 
Hotel. It makes no diff'erence whether the room be in the 
front or rear of the house — whether in the first, second, third 
or fourth story, the same beauty of scenery presents itself; 
and glimpses of some one of the lakes are seen from every room 
in the house. It is very difficult to decide upon a location in 
this house, with a view to its greatest pleasantness. Where all 
the rooms are so satisfactory, all guests must be pleased so far 
as room is concerned. 



340 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

*' In the furnisliing of this hotel, no pains or expense has 
been spared to make this part correspond fully in style with 
the magnificence of the building itself; and, at the same time, 
aiford substantial comfort to the guests. The entire furniture 
is of walnut, oiled, and of the most substantial character, and 
of modern style. The parlor carpet is Crosseley's velvet. All 
the other carpets are English body Brussells, except those upon 
the fourth floor, and they are of the best Lowell manufacture. 
All the beds are furnished with hair mattrasses and steel 
rings of the best quality that could be[ procured. The table 
furniture, as silver, china, glassware, etc., is superior to any- 
thing of the kind we have ever seen. Exquisite taste has been 
exhibited in the selection of these articles. In fine, everything 
about the furnishing of the house is entirely new and of the 
very best quality. It is heated b}^ the most approved steam 
apparatus, and water, both hard and soft, is distributed through 
every part of the house, and for protection against fire, hose 
attachments are provided on every floor." 

The Hotel has been leased to Maek H. Irish, Esq., late of 
the Queen's Hotel, Toronto, and the Queen's Royal, at Niaga- 
ra. In these positions, Mr. Irish has acquired a high reputa- 
tion as a superior hotel keeper. 

The most elegant edifice completed this season, was the 
United States Court House and Post Ofiice. It is located on 
the corner of Wisconsin avenue and Mifllin street, opposite- 
the City Hall. It was built by the government without 
regard to expense, and by mechanics who were paid by the 
day under the direction of Col. S. V. Shipmai^", Superintending 
Architect. It is a four story building above the basement^ 
the corners and facings constructed of Joliet marble, and 
Madison stone for inside walls. It is 113 feet in length, and 
about TO feet in width; is built in the most modern style of 
architecture, and surmounted with a Mansard roof. The 
interior arrangements are complete in all respects. The first 
floor, occupied as the Post Office, is fitted up with all the modern 
improvements, has some 400 lock boxes, and nearly 2,000 other 
boxes. Many of the other boxes are trimmed with brass, and 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 341 

have oval glass lights arranged in the most tasty manner 
Back of the Post Office proper, are apartments for postmaster, 
chief clerk, the paymaster, cashier, etc. 

In the second story are the offices of clerks of the courts, 
U. S. marshal, assessor and collector of internal revenue, judges, 
pension agent, etc. 

The third story is occupied as United States District Court 
Room, and is in all respects the most elegant court room in the 
state and in the west. 

The building is placed upon the most permanent and endur- 
ing foundations, extending some thirty feet into the earth, 
and it is literally fire proof, being built of stone and iron, 
except a few interior casings, which are of black walnut of the 
finest finish. The building is an ornament to the state and a 
credit to the government. To the energy of the late Hon. B. 
F. HoPKiJ^s is due the credit of securing the building of this 
magnificent structure. 

In a review of the improvements made in the city during 
the year, the Madison Democrat says: " Though this year now 
closing has been remarkable for hard times throughout the 
State, owing to the short crops of 1870, and other causes, it 
has, nevertheless, been characterized by great advancement in 
all that tends to make a people great and prosperous. In 
increased railroad facilities and public improvements, the state 
has never made more rapid growth than in the past year, and 
Madison has made the same progress in all that tends to its 
substantial prosperity." 

We give an abstract of some of the more important improve- 
ments: In February, the building on the corner of Pinckney 
and Clymer streets, known as the Yak Bergek block, built in 
1855 by P. H. Vai^^ Bergen", Esq., having come into possession 
of R. M. HooLEY, Esq., the building was thoroughly re-modeled 
and arranged for an Opera House at a cost of about 86,000. It 
has all the modern improvements of a building designed for 
such purposes, with balcony circles, stage 60 by 30 feet, drop 
curtain, full set of scenery, etc., with a seating capacity of 800 
to 1,000 persons. This is a building much needed for public 
occasions. 



342 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Dr. J. E. Baker completed his new block, corner of Pinckney 
street and Washington avenue, one of the most handsome as 
well as most substantial in the city, and was built at a cost of 
about 130,000. The walls are of colored Madison sandstone. 
It is one of the most imposing buildings we have, and is 
greatly admired for its fine architectural appearance. It is 
occupied by the Park's Saving's Bank and two stores on the 
first floor on Pinckney street, the upper stories for insurance and 
other ofiices. 

The Democrat Block, on Mifilin street, near Carroll street,, 
was built by Fish & Stevens, of Madison stone; is 6Q feet front 
and 60 feet deep. The cost of the building is about $11,000;, 
is two full stories with basement. The upper portion is used 
for the printing office of the Democrat^ and the first floor for 
three stores. 

The Ellsworth Block is on Pinkney street, facing the Capitol,, 
and is 45 feet front, 80 feet deep, and three stories high; has 
two stores on first floor, the second floor for offices, and the 
third arranged with special reference to Prof. Worthin'GTOI^'s 
Business College. The building cost about 112,500 

In the earlier part of this history, reference was made to the 
old Messersmith House, on Pinckney street. Some additional 
information in reference to this building and events connected 
with its history, may be interesting. 

In the month of April, of this year (1871), Mr. Fritz M^^der 
having purchased the lot on which the building was standing, 
adjoining the Ellsworth Block, took it down to make room for 
the fine brick building which now occupies its site. 

In referring to the taking down of this house. Gen. Atwood, 
in an article in the State Journal of April 26, gives an interest- 
ing account of its history, from which liberal extracts have 
been taken. 

" In the autumn of 1837, Simeon" Mills, with John Mes- 
sersmith, began the building now demolished, and its timbers 
were enclosed that fall. Mr. Mills subsequently disposed of 
of his interest to Messersmith, who completed the building in 
the summer of 1838. Of saw mills, there were none in all this 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 343' 

region in those days, and so tlie beams were hewn, the clap- 
boards, shingles and lath rived from oaks on the ground, as well 
as the facilities admitted, the building was finished in the fall 
of 1838. Messersmith opened " a wet grocery '"* in the lower 
part of the building, and in the upper story, Mr. Burroughs, 
of Iowa county, unchained the " Tiger " for the first time in 
Madison. It was the regular Bengal animal, whose superior 
has never been seen here since, and where it was kept was the 
great place of resort for those who loved excitement, or sought 
amusement, indeed for everybody, for there was almost no- 
where else to go, neither churches, libraries, theatres or lec- 
tures. Society was unformed, the few houses were crowded, 
and gambling was accounted equally respectable with any 
other occupation of that time. Money was abundant, and cir- 
culated freely, was easily got and carelessly spent. Burroughs 
and others in the ring " made cords of money " out of their 
dupes, and we have heard that the riches of the man who ran 
the saloon down stairs, mainly took wings and flew to the up- 
per story out of his reach. Many a scene of despair has doubt- 
less been witnessed in the old building, which would be a war- 
ning to all in danger from the vice of gambling." 

Mr. M.^der's building is two stories, of stone, and is occu- 
pied by himself with his large stock of fancy goods and confec- 
tionery. The building cost about 86,000. 

Another valuable public improvement made this year, was 
the " Reaper Works," erected by J. H. Garnhardt, Esq., on 
the east end of Washington avenue, on block 223. It is built 
of white brick, and is as near fire-proof as is possible to make 
it. It is 175 feet long, with a wing on each end, 58 feet, ex- 
clusive of stone house, a switch of the Chicago and Northwest- 
ern Railroad runs to the coal house for receiving coal and lum- 
ber. The manufacture of reapers is to be the principal 
business. « 

Hiram Browi^ & Cc, Lave put up an establishment at the 
foot of Main street, 22 feet front and 114 feet deep, exclusive 
of engine room. It is built of brick, and cost, with the ma- 
chinery in it, about $20,000, and is designed for the manufac- 



3i4 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

ture of Anderson's agricultural steamer and low pressure steam 
heating apparatus. It will give employment to about twenty 
men. 

F. A. Ogdei^. Esq., has enlarged and greatly improved his 
block on Carroll street, west of the " Grace church." The 
block is 46 feet front and 40 feet deep, two stories high, and 
built of white brick, at an expense of 83,000. 

Fitch & McGovern-, on Main street, near the court house, 
have two fine brick stores, at a cost of $8,000. 

Gen. SiMEOi^ Mills has erected a two-story building on the 
corner of Main and Wisconsin avenue (on the site of his former 
residence), and is occupied by Pardee & Beo's, druggists, and 
ofi&ces on the second floor. 

Mr. Kleuter, near the East Madison depot, built a two story 
brick store for his own business at a cost of 13,500. Mr. P. 
Cass a similar building, 22 by 44 feet on King street. 

There has been quite a number of elegant residences erected 
during the year, besides many cottages. The following is a 
memorandum of those built exceeding a cost of $2,500: Maj. 
J AS. E. Mears, brick, on Carroll street, $5,000; Prof. J. W. 
STERLii^G, State street, brick, 15,300; L. W. Hoyt, Esq., Wis- 
consin avenue, brick, $4,500; Maj. J. 0. Culver, Carroll street, 
on Lake Mendota, frame, $4.000 ; Hon. B. E. HuTCHiiq^soN-, near 
Wisconsin avenue, brick, $4,000; E. S. McBride, Carroll 
street, brick, $3,700; Hon. E. W. Keyes, Pinckney, brick 
house enlarged, $3,500. The cost of private residences may 
safely be estimatd at $50,000. 

The whole amount expended in permanent improvements 
may be put down as follows: Business blocks and stores. 
$217,500; private residences, $50,000; manufacturing establish- 
ments, $60,000; gas works, in buildings and new pipes, $30,000; 
street improvements, .^550,000. To this may be added the new 
Female College and University grounds, $50,000; the new St. 
Regina Academy, on Washington avenue (three story brick 
with basement and Mansard roof, the building 33 by 70 feet), 
$8,500; and the pastor's residence, corner of Main street, a 
brick building, $3,500. The Madison Democrat puts down the 
whole improvements at over $500,000. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN, 34^ 

On the 9tli of October occurred the " Great Fire of Chicago " 
the account of which produced as great excitement here as at 
any other point. Meetings of the citizens were held, and pro- 
visions and clothing were brought forward, and sent on imme- 
diately to relieve the sufferers. Madison responded to the call 
for relief promptly, and money and merchandise to amount to 
*10,000 were sent; assistance was also sent to the sufferers at 
i^eshtigo m the northern part of the state, where the loss of 
life and property by the raging fires called aloud for aid and 
sympathy. 

The Madison Yacht Club is the largest organization of the 
kind m Wisconsin. It was organized in the fall of 1870 by 
the consolidation of the Mendota and the Lake City Yacht 
Clubs, and was granted a charter by the legislature of 1871. 
The fleet of the club numbers sixteen boats, including schooner,' 
sloop and cat rigged yachts. Numerous regattas are held du-^ 
ring the sailing season, attracting large numbers of people 
from all parts of the State, and have heretofore always proved 
great successes. The club has handsomely furnished rooms in 
Fairchild's block, where the late papers are always to be found 
The Madison Boat Club has been in existence only one year, 
but has a vigorous start, and is recognized as one of the sub- 
stantial attractions of the city. It has a fine equipment of 
cedar and paper shells, and a fine barge for excursions and pic- 
nics. The club has invested in boats, ^825; boat houses, $300, 
and equipments, $175, and contemplates making extensive ad- 
ditions during the season of 1872. It numbers among its ac- 
tive members many of the prominent, professional and busi- 
ness men of the city, and with fine equipments and unrivalled 
boating facilities, bids fair to take a prominent place amono- the 
many amateur boat clubs of the west. The rowing cours°e on 
Lake Monona is unsurpassed east or west. 

At the annual meeting of the Club, held October 28, it was 
reported that the total receipts since the organization were 
$1,010.20, of which amount, $891.75 was received from mem- 
bers, and $118.45 from other sources - that there had been 
paid for boats, $800.28, and $236.46 for houses and pier. 

23 



846 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

In the account above given, we have omitted to state that 
Geoege Fess has enlarged his hotel accommodations by the 
construction of a two story brick building, 30 by 60 feet, at a 
cost of about $4,000. On this lot there has been for years a 
neat little building which has been occupied by Mr. Fess as a 
dwelling, in connection with his hotel accommodations. This 
little building possesses a historical interest which it will be 
interesting to notice. It was built in 1838, and was first used 
by the commissioners who came here to superintend the erec- 
tion of the old capitol as their office. It has been in constant 
use ever since. Its frame work never saw such an institution 
as a saw mill, or its lath a circular saw or any other kind. The 
large timbers for its frame were hewn with an axe, and its lath 
are of large proportions, having no regular size; yet everything 
stands as firm as a rock, and the building could be safely re- 
moved to Milwaukee or almost any other place without fear of 
even cracking the plastering. 

On the 11th of January, 1872, Mr. Johk Stoker died at his 
residence, in this place, in his 80th year. The following notice 
of him has been prepared by Wm. Welch, Esq. He was born in 
Washington county, Md., on the 25th day of December, 1791. 
When a child, he was taken to Adams county, Penn. ; from this 
place he went to New York city, and soon after to Buffalo, 
when that place was comparatively new. The family leaving Buf- 
falo, settled at Fairport, 5 miles east of Willoughby, on the lake 
shore. Here his father died, when, with his mother, he returned 
to Pennsylvania, and learned the cabinet making trade. Soon 
after, the war of 1812 broke out, when he enlisted as a private, 
and at the close of the term of his enlistment, was discharged. 

Mr. S. now went to Ohio, was married, and settled in Euclid, 
eight miles east of Cleveland, where he resided 25 years. With 
a small piece of land upon which he grew his bread, and work- 
ing industriously at his trade, he managed to obtain quite a 
competency for those days, but his family increasing faster than 
his dollars and his acres, he was obliged to seek for a wider 
range for his field of labors, and conceived the idea of seeking a 
new home in the then "Far off" West." 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 347 

Husbanding his means, a portion of which he invested in a 
span of horses and a wagon, he started with his wife and a 
family of seven children, for Madison, the capital of the then 
Territory of Wisconsin, and after a tedious journey of just four 
weeks, through a new and almost wilderness country, 
reached his destination on the 6th of September, 1837. His 
wagon was about the first that came from Janesville here, 
Janesville then contained but one solitary double log cabin, and 
was occupied by Jakes himself. The course of this place was 
marked by blazed trees, a party of government surveyors having 
just before run a line between the two points. 

Mr. Stoner found but three or four log cabins in this gay 
capital. The old Peck house, a log building, with a small 
frame attached, stood near the site of the present residence of 
Wm. PYiiTCHEOi^, Esq., and was the principal point of attraction. 
The wood frame afterwards constituted a portion of the kitchen 
of the old Madison Hotel. 

Aside from women and children (few indeed), the population 
of the place consisted of but twenty-five or thirty persons, most 
of whom were employed as laborers on the capitol. Milwaukee 
and Galena were the points from which provisions must be ob- 
tained, and as the wife and babies had not learned to live with- 
out food, Mr. S. was obliged to procure it. He concluded to go 
to Galena, and on foot he started. At the head of Fourth 
Lake, where Pheasant Branch now is, he struck an Indian 
trail which led off into the lead mines, and from there he found 
a wagon track to Galena. Arrived there, he purchased a yoke 
of oxen and a wagon, and his provisions. Pork was 836 per 
barrel; flour, -$30 to 835 per barrel; butter, $1 per pound; sugar 
75 cents, and everything else in proportion. Returning to Mad- 
ison he was caught in a heavy full of snow. When the storm 
abated the snow was so heavy that he was unable to travel, 
and he camped several days and nights, subsisting himself and 
team as best he could. On reaching home, he found a new 
born son, which was the first male child born here, and which 
he at once christened " Madison " in honor of the place. 

In 1838, he entered 210 acres of land on what is now called 



348 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

" Stoner's Prairie," a few miles west of Madison — the prairie 
taking his name. Leaving his family in town, in order that 
his children might have the benefit of a school, he kept " bach" 
on this farm more or less for seventeen years, the first few 
years without fences, being annoyed only by deer and wild 
geese. Finally, he sold his farm for 115 per acre; within a year 
thereafter the same land was worth 150. 

In the spring of 1863, his faithful wife, who had shared his 
pioneer life, died. His family having grown up, he felt alone 
in the world. Restless and uneasy, the pioneer spirit revived, 
and taking his old sorrel mare, which he had owned when a 
colt twenty-two years before, and his only grandson, a lad of 
fourteen summers, he set out for Colorado Territory, where his 
son MADIS02S" had made a home four or five years before. The 
next year he returned to the States, going back the same sea- 
son — coming and returning with the old mare- In 1865, he 
came again to Madison, returning the same year, after visiting 
Ohio. 

Mr. Stoister had two daughters, who were married, but they 
died a few years after, of consumption, as well as two unmar- 
ried daughters. His son GtEORGE W. Stoker is still a resident 
of Madison. 

Mr. Stoker was a good man, honored and respected by 
everj^one. 

At the spring election, April 2, 1872, for the office of Mayor, 
J AS. L. Hill"*" received 976, and Aldek S. Sakbork, 772 votes; 
Mr. Hill's majority, 204. For Treasurer, Maj. Chas. G. Mayers 
received 1,017 votes, and A. Herfuth, 722; majority for Maj. 

* James L. Hill, Esq., is a son of Priam B. and Amanda E. Hill, and 
was born at Brockport, N. Y., July 4, 1834. ^^ removed with his parents 
to Fulton county, 111., in 1836, and, in 1842, to Milwaukee, where he made 
his residence until 1854, the last two years of which he was engaged in the 
banking house of Marshall & Ilslej. In February, 1854, he removed to 
Madison, and was Teller of the State Bank, which place he retained until 
the organization of the Bank of Madison, in i860, when he took the posi- 
tion of Cashier, and subsequently President of that institution, which he 
retained until the business of the bank was suspended in 1873. M^* ^^^^ 
was elected Mayor at the spring election of 1872. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 349 

Mayers, 295. For Police Justice, A. B. Braley received 1,224 
votes; there was no opposing candidate. The Akiermen 
elected were: E. Cook and Geo. W. Buoter, 1st ward; R. 
WooTTOK and C. P. Chapman, 2d ward; F. ]\I. Dorx and John 
Lewis, 3d ward; and Adriaj^ Webster and Estes Wilson, 4th 
ward. 

The total expenditures of the city, for city purposes, for the 
year past were, 135,878.02, and the receipts, ^36,304.55. 

The number of scholars in the city schools, from September 
11, 1871, to June 28, 1872, as reported by the City Superin- 
tendent of Schools, was 1,927; the number present at the date 
of the report, 1,043. The total receipts for the support of the 
city schools, for the year past, were $25,690.36; and the expendi- 
tures, $25,366.21. 

^ On the 13th of June, the corner-stone of the new Congrega- 
tional Church building, on the corner of Washington avenue 
and Fairchild street, was laid with appropriate exercises, includ- 
ing addresses by Rev. Dr. Samuel Fallows, Rev. C. H. Rich- 
ards and Gen. David Atwood. In the former part of this 
work we gave an account of the early history of this church, 
which was established in 1840. For a number of years past, 
the building occupied by the society had been inadequate to 
supply the growing wants of the congregation, and the erec- 
tion of a new building was called for as a matter of imperative 
necessity, 

The following is a brief account of the building pro- 
posed t^o be erected: It is to be a little irregular in shape, but 
about 75 feet square, the audience room being 10 feet less in 
widfh than in depth, and will seat 650 on the main floor, and 
350 in the galleries. There will be rooms for conference and 
social gatherings, Bible classes, etc., in the basement, with the 
present chapel made available for Sunday School purposes. It 
IS to have a tower 16 feet square, with a spire 176 feet high. 
The total cost will be nearly $35,000, of which $23,000 has 
been subscribed at this date. A more detailed account of this 
building will be given hereafter. 

The national anniversary, this year, was observed with more 



350 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

than usual interest. The Society of the Army of the Tennes- 
see held their annual re-union at this place at that time, which 
brought hither a large number of the most prominent ofl&cers 
in the army to participate in the meeting. The Journal says: 
" Seldom, if ever before, has Madison been so thronged by peo- 
ple from the surrounding country as on this occasion. Some 
4,000 persons arrived by railroad, at the East Madison depot, 
between the hours of 9 and 10 A. M., and, during the day, 
about 7,000 arrived in all, and not less than 1,500 from the 
adjacent towns. Among those present, were Gen. Philip H. 
SHERiDAi^, Gen. Belki^^ap (Secretary of War), Gen. Pope, Gen. 
Notes (Governor of Ohio), and a large number of military 
officers of high rank, as well as private soldiers, etc. The pro- 
cession was large and attractive, under the charge of Col. W. 
F. YiLAS and nine assistants. At the stand, the following per- 
sons took part: Hon. Geo. B. Smith, President; Rev. H. W. 
Spalding, Chaplain; Wm. Welch, Reader; and S. A. Hurl- 
but, of Belvidere, 111., Orator. There was a yacht race at 3 P. 
M., and a rowing race at 4 o'clock, which were well attended, 
and were very satisfactory. The exercises were concluded by a 
fine display of fireworks. 

The corner-stone of the new Methodist Episcopal Church on 
the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Dayton street, was laid on 
the 30th September, with appropriate ceremonies. An address 
was delivered by Rev. J. H. Twombly, D. D., President of the 
Wisconsin University. The new church promises to be a very 
fine and most substantial structure, and a great ornament to the 
city. It is to be of stone throughout, 115 feet by 60 feet, and 
to cost not less than 150,000. One of the features of the re- 
port adopted at the last West Wisconsin Conference, in rela- 
tion to this church, was, that the whole sum was divided in 
three equal parts; one third to be raised by the church at Mad- 
ison ($16,666,661); one third by the West Wisconsin Confer- 
ence, and the other third by the Wisconsin Conference. 
Madison has already raised about the whole of the sum appor- 
tioned to her, or has in hand property to that amount. The 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WIS CONS IX. 351 

work of building will be prosecuted with all despatch and as 
fast as funds are received for that purpose. 

Rev. Dr. Alfeed Bruksox, of Prairie du Chien, has furnished 
for present use, a history of this church, from the earliest time, 
and other statistics derived from the church records are here- 
with given. We are fortunate in being able to give so full an 
account of the organization. 

'' Agreeably to your request, I send you the best information I 
possess on the Methodist Church in Madison. 

The building of the territorial capitol, commenced in 1837. 
This brought a large number of workmen to that place, with 
others who intended to reside there. In the course of that 
summer the Rev. Salmo2^ StebbijSTS, now of Bristol, Kenosha 
county, then Presiding Elder of Milwaukee District in the Il- 
linois Conference, in primitive Methodist style, following the 
new settlers as fast as they kindle their camp-fires, visited the 
place and preached to them; the first sermon of any kind 
preached on the present site of the capital of the state. 

I am not aware that he found any of his own church among 
the workmen or settlers, but he met with a hearty welcome; 
and attached the place to the Aztalan Mission, to which Sam- 
uel PiLSBURY and Jesse Halstead had been appointed, and 
they also, probably, visited and preached to the people more or 
less. 

The next year, Madison and Fort Winnebago were made a 
Mission Circuit, with JoHis' Hodge as Pastor. The country 
being new, the settlements sparse, circuits in those daj's em- 
braced a large tract of country. 

Madison, being the capital of the territor}^, was kept at the 
head of the circuit, though there was not a member of the 
church in it; and thus it continued, once connected with Mus- 
coda, but mostly by itself, as the nucleus to the surrounding 
country. 

My first visit to Madison was in the month of December, 
1840, as a member of the Territorial Legislature. Down to 
that time there had been no class formed, and preaching was 



352 HISTORY OF MADISON AJSD THE 

done in tlie Capitol, the Assembly Hall, which was the only- 
place for public gatherings, and it was open for all denomina- 
tions. Finding a few Methodists in the Legislature, and among 
its officers, I gathered them together on Sundays for class meet- 
ings; the first class meetings held in the place. On Sunday 
morning and evening, preaching was kept up in the Assembly 
Hall. The Chaplain, Jas . Mitchell, being a Methodist, he 
and I took it turn about, there being no other preacher there, 
except an occasional visitor, for the winter. 

The first organization of a Methodist class, as well as I can 
ascertain, was in 1841, by Rev. T. M. Fullerton, consisting of 
six members, which increased but slowly, with now and then 
a decrease, chiefly by removals, leaving the present number 
(1873) about one hundred and thirty. 

The year 1851 was a year of peculiar affliction to the Metho- 
dists of Madison, by what has since been called '' the Snow 
Storm." The pastor, Rev. J. S]srow, by some means became 
partially demented, and so administered discipline as to exclude, 
or cause to withdraw, about half the members of the church, 
for which he was deposed by the conference from his minis- 
terial functions, and those who had been expelled, or had with- 
drawn to avoid expulsion, were restored to their^original mem- 
bership, yet the effects of that terrible storm are still felt and 
seen, and probably will be more or less, till that generation 
passes away. 

Madison was not separated from its county connections, and 
made a separate charge, until 1852, since which time it has 
remained as such. 

The old church, " on the corner," now such an eye-sore to 
the membership and the people of Madison, was begun in 
1849 or 1850. While yet connected with the circuit, " Father 
Wm. Fox" of Oregon, then a part of the circuit, was the 
principal agent in its erection. But the society being small, 
and having but little of this world's goods, the building went 
on slowly. Business men and property holders did not seem 
to appreciate the value of a church in enhancing the business 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 353 

and the value of property, and, therefore, did not aid the feeble 
society as men of that class have in other places. 

The old church, however, at the time it was built, was quite 
respectable, being nearly the first house of worship in the city, 
and quite as good as others of its time. But the growth of the 
city, and the erection of larger and more splendid buildings 
and churches, the old home of Methodism in Madison fell 
into the shade, and our wealthy members and friends, both 
residents and visitors, became ashamed of it, and business men 
coveted the site for a building house. The house also became 
too small for the congregation. Under these circumstances, 
the society, for years, have been devising ways and means 
for building a house of worship that would be more acceptable 
to the eyes of the public and accommodate the attendants. 
But not being able of themselves, and others outside of the 
church, not seeming to appreciate the value of such a building 
to the name and property of the city, nothing was done in this 
direction until our conference of 1871, when it was resolved to 
make it a State affair, and the other conferences agreeing to it, 
the Rev. D. W. Couch was appointed an agent to solicit aid 
from the members and friends of the church, and put up a 
building that would be an ornament to the Capital of the 
State, and be a fit representative of the most numerous church 
in it. This is now under way, and it is hoped will be ready for 
occupancy within a year. 

Our system ot itinerancy, requiring annual or bi-annual 
charges in the pastorate, necessarily gives variety to the pulpit 
— some of the best, and some not so good — but as '' variety is 
the spice of life," on the whole, the best results have followed, 
though some localities may not see it in that light. 

The history of Methodism in Madison has been one of 
humiliating tendencies. Methodism has not grown or pros- 
pered here, as it has in other places, but as the humble have 
the promise of the Savior's help, we hope that better daj^s are 
dawning upon us. 

In 1856 the West Wisconsin Conference w^as set off from 



354 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

the other part of the State, and the first session of it was held 
in Madison in that year, in the old church. In 1861, soon 
after the rehellion broke out, we held another session in the 
city. The old church being too small, we were honored with 
the use of the Capitol, and while the Stars and Stripes were 
waving over our heads, we adopted a set of resolutions, the 
first, I believe, from an}^ ecclesiastical body, proffering aid and 
comfort to President Lincoln in that mighty struggle for life 
and liberty, to which Mr. LiJ^coLi^r made a respectful and 
thankful reply, which was entered upon the journals of the 
conference. 

In addition to this valuable paper, the following historical 
sketch has been prepared by Rev. Geo. Fellows, a former pas- 
tor of the church, on the same subject, and is copied from the 
church records: 

The first conference that sent her members to labor in Mad- 
son, was the Illinois conference. The first appointment made 
in this State was by that conference, October 1, 1835, at Mil- 
waukee. In 1836, Root River Mission was formed, and Samuel 
PiLSBUKY appointed pastor. At the Illinois conference, 1837, 
Salmojn" Stebbins was made presiding Elder of Milwaukee dis- 
trict, and Madison mission left to be supplied, which is the first 
mention made of Madison. Col. A. A. Bird says, a Methodist 
clergyman. Rev. Salmojst Stebbiks, preached the first sermon 
delivered in Madison, in the month of September, 1837, at 
which time there were but four families in the place; Ebej^" 
Peck and family, Johk Pierce and family, JoHi^ Stoker and 
family and the widow Bird's family. Mrs. Mariok Stark- 
weather, a daughter of Col. Bird, says that in March, 1838, 
Rev. Samuel Pilsbury (who was preacher at the Aztalan Mis- 
sion), came and preached in Madison, and during the season 
came regularly once a month. Her father (Col. Bird), received 
word from a friend in Buff'alo, N. Y., that Pilsbury would be 
here and preach if a place could be provided, and thereupon a 
log barn was enclosed .on the spot where Mr. A. Kentzler's 
stables are now located, and it was made ready in March to 
shelter the people. Mr. Pilsbury came and preached his first 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCOXSIX. 355 

sermon there. The following persons were present: A. A. 
Bird and family of four children; Dr. Almon" Lull, Charles 
and William Bird, and the barn was surrounded by three or 
four hundred Indians, who were curious listeners. A few inci- 
dents of Mr. Pilsbury's labors have been preserved. While 
tarrying- at Col. Bird's for about a week the young girls, 
including Mariois", having heard some of the settlers say that 
they had not had a prayer at their house for years, kept an ac- 
count of the number of morning and evening prayers made b}^ 
Mr. P. while with them, with chalk on the door. Mrs. Stark- 
weather also says, that Mr. P. was present and opened by 
prayer the first session of the Territorial council held in the 
then unfinished State House. It is also quite probable that 
Mr. Stebbins was here occasionally through the year as pre- 
siding elder. 

There were no members reported to conference at the session 
September 12, 1838, but Madison and Fort Winnebago were 
associated, and the Rev. John Hodges was the missionary. At 
the end of the year five members were reported in his field. In 
the year 1839, Madison was left to be supplied. Rev. Mr. 
Stebbins was employed at Racine and Southport, but preached 
at Madison occasionally during the year. Miss Ruth Starks 
came here October 11, 1839. At the meeting of the Rock 
River Conference, held at Pine Creek, Ogle county. 111., there 
were three members reported at Madison, August 26, 1810, viz., 
Ruth Staeks, Benjamin Holt and wife. Mr. Holt was 
leader. It is probable that Rev. S. P. Keyes who was at Fort 
Winnebago, preached occasionally during the year, there being 
no missionary here. At the meeting of the conference at Platte- 
ville, August 21, 1811, there were eleven members reported at 
Madison. At the conference at Chicago, August 21, 1812, six 
members reported, and S. P. Keyes at Madison mission. The 
services were now held in the capitol. At the conference held 
at Dubuque, Iowa, August 23, 1813, seventy-eight members re- 
ported at Madison, and Jesse I^. Bennet, missionary. At one 
held July 21, 1811, fift3'-eight members. Salmon Stebbins, 
preacher. One at Peoria, August 20, 1815, forty-six members, 



356 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

and William Allen, appointed, but did not come, and Benja- 
min Close came as a substitute. Mrs. Hannah Pyncheon 
Weight became a member this year. At the conference at 
Galena, 111., August 12, 1846, Madison reported (including ad- 
jacent towns), 260 members. F. Smith and R. R. Farnswoeth, 
preachers; the latter did not come, but Wm. Tasker was asso- 
ciated with the former. August 11, 1817 — members, 234. 
John Penman and C. B. Foster, preachers. The Wisconsin 
conference was formed July 12, 1818, and met at Southport 
(Kenosha), two hundred and twenty members reported, John 
Penman, preacher. Conference held at Platteville, July 27, 
1819, and sixty-eight members reported, one probationer and 
four local preachers. Wesley Lattin, at Madison. July 26, 

1850, conference held at Beloit, and sixty-eight members and 
eighty-seven probationers, Wesley Lattin returned. The 
building of the church was commenced this year. June 25, 

1851, conference held at Waukesha; one 101 members, 36 
probationers and five local preachers. Madison district, Wash- 
ington Wilcox, presiding elder and Jonathan M. Snow, 
and Enoch Taskee, preachers. Sept. 1, 1852, conference held 
at Fond du Lac; there were 106 members, nine probationers, two 
colored and one local preacher. J. Seaeles and W. H. Thom - 
SON, preachers. The church was completed this year and 
dedicated, Rev. S. C. Thomas preaching the dedicatory sermon. 
Of the subsequent ministers of this church, we find, in 1853, 0. 
F. CoMFOET, pastor; 1854, J. Nolan; 1855 and 1856, M. Hime- 
baugh; 1857, C. E. Wyeick, 1858, J. West Millee, for eight 
months, and Rev. Samuel Fallows, a student of the Univer- 
sity, appointed junior preacher, 1859, J. C. Aspinwall and Mr. 
Fallows, assistant- 
Rev. A. McWeight, appointed October, 1859, and re-ap- 
pointed in 1860, but did not return. Rev. Elmoee Yocum was 
emplo3^ed for eleven months. September, 1861, Rev. J. A. 
Swetland appointed, and was re-appointed, but retired after a 
short service, owing to ill health, and W. H. Wilde appointed, 
and preached the balance of the year, and was re-appointed and 
labored until January, 1864, when his health failed. Rev. J. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 357 

M. SrEiNGEE, chaplain of 3d Wisconsin regiment, suppliedthe 
pulpit until May 1, when H. H. Parker was engaged to fill the 
balance of the year. He remained until September 1. Rev. 
Geo. Fellows supplied the pulpit in the month of September. 
He was re-appointed August, 1865, and served until August, 
1866, when he was succeeded by Rev. Jos. K. Irish, Rev. H. k! 
Cobb, Rev. P. S. Mather and Rev. H. Stone RicLardsox to 
1874. 

Rev. Salmon Stebbins, now of Bristol, Kenosha county. 
Wis., who, it is believed, is the first clergyman who preached 
at Madison, has furnished the following account of himself, 
and of his^ first visit here: He was born at Plainfield, N. H.,' 
July 13, 1795, and came to Wisconsin, October 26, 1837. He 
first stopped at Southport (now Kenosha), passed on to Mil- 
waukee, through the counties of Washington, Manitowoc and 
Sheboygan, to Green Bay and Fond du Lac, and reached Madi- 
son November 28, 1837. Here he found Col. A. A. Bird and 
his posse of workmen employed in building the Territorial 
Capitol. He was invited by the Colonel to preach in his bar- 
room, who sent messengers, as he thinks, to the entire popula- 
tion of the town, to whom he preached, as he believes, the first 
sermon at the capital. He further says, " the character of his 
congregation may be estimated by the fact that, without solici- 
tation, the next morning he was presented with a purse of -$11, 
to aid in his missionary work." In his diary at that time, he 
writes: "I preached to a very interested and interesting con- 
gregation." At that time there were no inhabitants between 
Madison and Jeff'erson, and but very few at that place. 

The 4th of July, 1873, was generally observed as a patriotic 
holiday, although there was no regular celebration. There was 
no procession. The morning and a part of the afternoon was 
ramy. The Good Templars had an excursion to Devil's Lake, 
m which many participated, and many were drenched bv a 
shower coming up on their return. There was a yacht race on 
Lake Monona in the afternoon. The old settlers of the city 
were entertained by Wm. M. Rasdall, at his residence on Fair- 
child street. 



358 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

During the summer, the State authorities erected a coal 
vault and room for the steam boilers and apparatus for heating 
the Capitol. The vault was 68 feet long, 50 feet wide and 1^ 
feet deep, one third for the boilers and engine room, and the 
remainder for storing coal, and will hold 1,400 tons. The 
walls were of stone, covered with brick arches between iron 
girders, and covered with sod, with proper openings for venti- 
lation and light. This is a fine improvement, and does away 
with the unseemly coal yard in the park. Neat walks were 
also opened in the park, and laid with a cement of asphalt. 
The iron fence around the Capitol grounds was completed, and 
the whole graded and put in good condition. The fence is now 
completed at a total cost of 137,912.37, which includes the sum 
of $7,500 for curbing and walk outside the fence, and large 
flagging stones in front of each of the gates, and $847.25 for 
the large ornamental figures on the gate posts. 

In the year 1867, the State had expended some $8,000 in 
sinking an artesian well. After attaining a depth of 1,000 
feet, the work was abandoned and closed up, in the belief that 
a flowing Avell could not be obtained. In 1873, the Legislature 
made an appropriation for improving the Capitol grounds, and, 
among other things, $5,000 for supplying the Capitol with wa- 
ter. This Avas made in contemplation of the erection of a 
steam pump and boiler house on the shores of Lake Monona, 
and forcing the water through pipes from there to the Capitol. 

Gov. Washbukn, being of the opinion that a supply of wa- 
ter could be procured from said well, caused some experiments 
to be made, which satisfied him of an abundant supply of 
water from the same, he caused a shaft to be sunk to the depth 
of the water standing in the pipe of the well, being about 60 
feet from the surface, and at the bottom of it set up a power- 
ful steam pump, connected the same with the boilers in the 
vault, and at a largely diminished cost, obtained an unlimited 
supply of the purest water. 

The Governor soon after sent a jug of this water to Prof. I. 
A. Lapham, of the State Geological Survey, who had it thor- 



FOUR LAKE COVNTEY OF WISCONSIN. 359 

oiiglily analyzed by Gustavus Bode, an analytical chemist at 
Milwaukee, who makes the following report: 

"Milwaukee, Oct. 10, 1873. 

"Prof. I. A. Lapham — Dear Sir: — Herewith please find re- 
sults of an analysis of the water of the artesian well in Madi- 
son, which I made at your request. One gallon of it contains 
the following salts: 

Grains. 

Chloride of sodium, ------- 0.671 

Sulphate of soda, ------ I-53S 

Bi-carbonat^ of soda, .----- 1.956 

Bi-carbonate of lime, ------ 8. 120 

Bi-carbonate of magnesia, ------ 6.937 

Bi-carbonate of iron, - - - - - - o-55.b 

Silicia, ..------ 1.456 



21.233 



" The analysis shows the same small amount of salts, the ab- 
sence of sulphate of lime and of organic matter, and the slight 
excess of alkali characteristics of those waters which are rec- 
ommended for their medicinal properties in the ' Bethesda ' of 
Waukesha, or the ' Siloam ' of Milwaukee, or numerous others. 
In regard to purity and brightness, it is certainly not their in- 
ferior. Respectfully yours, Gustavus Bode, 

^^ Anal Iff iced Chemist^ 

The water from this well has proved very beneficial in many 
diseases, and some days there are large gatherings of people at 
the pump, in the morning, carrying the water to their homes 
for medicinal purposes. A charter for a company to lease the 
water of the State, for bottling and supplying the outside de- 
mand for it, is now pending in the Legislature. 

At the spring election, 1873, Judge Orsamus Cole received 
1,180 votes for Associate Judge of the Supreme Court, and Col. 
George E. Bryant 1,171 for the office of County Judge. For 
the office of Mayor, J. C. McKenney received oOi votes, and 



360 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

J. C. Gregory'*' 962, who was elected by 458 majority. For 
Treasurer, Wm. Farrell received 791 votes, and Charles G. 
Mayers, 671. Mr. Farrell's majority, 120. Aldermen — 1st 
ward, Geo. W. Bunker and J. Heeran; 2d ward, C. P. Chap- 
man and Andrew Daubner; 3d ward, H. Kleuter and Dar- 
win Clark; 4tli ward, A. Sexton and Thos. Dean. 

The whole amount of receipts for the year (1872) was 
$127,957.33, and the expenditures, $104,333.79, of which 
115,166.61 were for general city purposes. 

On the 9th of June, the Presbyterian Church was re-opened 
for public worship. The building had undergone extensive 
improvements. 

The only addition made, is an arched recess for the organ, in 
the rear of the pulpit. The greatest change made is in the 
windows; the plain, square sashed windows, with blinds, hav- 
ing been replaced by arched windows, the principal part of 
each large pane, ground glass, a colored border in vine-work 
surrounding. There are excellent seats, mainly of ash, left the 
natural color of the wood, with a rail on top and heavy scroll 
and panel work at the end of walnut. The pulpit is a neat 
little affair of black walnut, with ash panels. The choir is of 
black walnut. The wainscoting is of alternate strips of wal- 
nut and ash. The halls and ceiling have been delicately tinted 
almost white, and the windows and cornice very tastefully 
frescoed. The exterior of the church has had a new coat of 
white paint put on it and looks very fresh and pure. 

The wood-work does credit to Messrs. Sorenson & Feed- 
ERiCKSOis^; the painting, to Mr. Pollard, and the frescoing to 
Mr. Egge. The Church deserves great credit for so greatly 
improving their place of worship. 

* Hon. Jared C. Gregory, a son of Ebenezer Gregory, was born in the 
town of Butternuts, Otsego county, N. Y., January 13, 1823; studied law 
at Unadilla and Cooperstown, N. Y., where he practised his profession. 
He was candidate for Congress in the 19th (New York) Congressional 
District, in 1856, but was defeated by Oliver A. Morse. Mr. Gregory re- 
moved to Wisconsin in 1858, and settled at Madison, where he has since 
made his residence. He was elected Mayor in the spring of 1873. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 361 

The new organ, built by the Marshall Brothers and 
Clarke of Milwaukee, price 13,600, is a large and very fine 
instrument. Its base is heavily cased in black walnut. Its 
pipes stand alone in the recess, and are painted chiefly with 
two shades of blue, and with drab, with stripes and markings 
of red and gilt. It has two manuals, CC to A, 58 notes, with 
pedal, CCC to F, 30 notes. 

The instrument is a great improvement on any we have seen 
built by this firm, and is deserving of high praise. It is very 
powerful, well balanced, its voicing exceedingly good, its 
quality of tone excellent, and, indeed, little is left to be 
desired. 
The expense of the repairs was about 17,000. 
Rev. L. Y. Hays, of Ottawa, 111., having received an unani- 
mous call to the pastorate, was installed to that office on June 
12. Appropriate exercises were held, and addresses made by 
Rev. C. L. Thompson, of Chicago; Rev. Matthew A. Fox, of 
Oregon, Wis.; Rev. Mr. Kkott, of Lodi; and Rev. G. F. HuK- 
TiN'G, of Kilbourn City. 

The dwelling house located on the corner of Wisconsin Av- 
enue and Clymer street, was moved off in the month of June 
of this year, to make room for a more modern structure to be 
erected by Gen. D. Atwood for a private residence. This 
house was one of the old landmarks of the city, and has not 
been without its historic incidents. Gen. Atwood in an editor- 
ial in the State Journal of June 10, says: '' It was erected in 1812 
by Peter H. Van Bergen, Esq., through whose energy many 
of the finest buildings in Madison were constructed. His last 
effort in building, we believe was the erection of what is now 
the Opera House block. In the early years of this house, a se- 
lect school was taught in it by J. R. Brigham, Esq., now of 
Milwaukee. On graduating from College, Mr. B., returned to 
his home in Madison, and issued a notice for a select school in 
this house, and hither the then children, now men and women, 
some of whom have become distinguished in the land, repaired 
and received instruction in the rudiments of an education. The 

school was a success, and we are happy to know that the 
24 



862 HISTORY OF MADISON AlSD THE 

young teaclier lias also proved a success in the world. He now 
ranks among Milwaukee's most enterprising, intelligent and 
prosperous citizens. 

The house was then used as a dwelling^ with frequent changes 
of occupants, for many years. On our first arrival in the place, 
Abram Ogdeit, Esq, resided there. He was abrother of Hon. Wm. 
B. Ogdei7, of Chicago, whose name is world wide. At that time 
Mr. O.'s family were all around him. The writer well remem- 
bers that one of the first calls he made in Madison was at this 
house, where he spent a pleasant evening with the young ladies 
of Mr. Ogden's family, now Mrs. J. D. Welch and Mrs. S. B- 
Bartlett. Since then, it has been occupied by Mrs. Jesse A. 
Clark, William Welch, Dr. Gray, Dr. Rudd, Alfred Earl, 
Wm. I. GoRDOiT, Geo. Capron, and perhaps others, as a private 
residence. 

In the winter of 1853, the house became specially noted, as 
" Monks' Hall." Under this title its reputation was extensive. 
Our neighbor of the Democrat a few days ago, spoke of it as the 
political headquarters of the " Forty Thieves." This was not 
wholly correct. That thieves existed there during the winter, 
we are not disposed to deny; but they were not wholly of any 
political party, nor were they wholly of that set known in the 
State as the Forty Thieves." We think there were at least 
forty of them, and their conduct was no better than that of the 
regular /br^y, but we would not willingly charge all the sins of 
" Monk's Hall," during the winter of 1853 to the parties known 
as the ''Forty Thieves." Added to their other sins, this would 
be too much. It was perhaps the first great railroad session of 
the Legislature of Wisconsin. The " Rock River Valley Union 
Railroad Conipany," which had a blooming existence at that 
time, and which has figured somewhat extensively in foreign 
countries since, was asking legislation, and this old house be- 
came the headquarters of that organization under the euphoni- 
ous name of " Monk's Hall." It was here that meinbers were 
taken in and done for; they were fed here, and they took liquid 
beverages in the same place; rates were fixed with various ap- 
pliances, and nights were often made hideous. But we will not 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCOXSIN. 863 

attempt to give a detailed history of that winter at " Monk's 
Hall. Most of the prominent actors in the scenes of that time 
have gone to their long home; and we willingly throw the veil 
of oblivion over many of their deeds during this eventful win- 
ter, and trust the after lives of the individuals engaged in the 
work of that sess ion at Monk's Hall, have good enough in 
them to compensate for the evils of that time. The operations 
of that winter in this building, may be insignificant compared 
with those that have since occurred in matters pertaining to 
railroads, but in the then innocent condition of our people, be- 
fore railroads had reached our place, the scenes of that winter 
were deemed especiall}^ hard. 

The old house is gone, and mechanics have already com- 
menced the construction of a new one on the same lot, which 
it is hoped will be better suited to the location and the age in 
which we live, than was the old one, whose history we have 
briefly given." 

One of the finest improvements of the city for the year 1873, 
was the High School Building^ which was completed and pre- 
pared for occupation for the term commencing January 5, 
1874. We are indebted to the " State Journal " for the follow- 
ing description: 

" For the benefit of non-resident readers, it may be well to 
say that it is located on Wisconsin avenue, on the site of the 
old building, and is built of Waterloo brick, resting on a high 
stone basement. It more nearly approaches the Italian style 
of architecture than any other, with a Chinese-like tower, four- 
teen feet square, the top of the staff above the belfry being 114 
feet from the ground. 

" Gr. P. Randall & Co., of Chicago, are the architects. The 
contract was let to James Liysey, who did the mason work, and 
H, N. MouLTOis" was sub-contractor, and did the carpenter 
work. The total contract price was $20,000, but it was found 
necessary to excavate a little farther than was at first intended, 
so as to get through clay into gravel, which added a few hun- 
dred dollars to the original estimate. Mr. Liysey's bill 
amounted to something over 88,000, and Mr. Moulto]S"'s to 



364 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

812,000, for everything but the furniture. D. R. Jo]S"es, of this 
city, was the supervising architect. The work is admirably done. 

" The main buikling is 63 by 44, with a wing 35 by 36, and is 
two stories high with a basement. The basement is 9 feet 6 
inches from floor to ceiling, the first story 13 feet 4 inches and 
the second story 14 feet 6 inches. 

" The main entrance, on Wisconsin avenue, up a flight of 
nine stone steps, is into a vestibule, 12 by 18 feet. This opens 
to the left, into the office and Superintendent's room, 16 by 23, 
in the east wing. At the end of the vestibule is the main hall, 
11 by 28 feet. To the left is the lunch room, 15 by 23, in the 
wing. This is for those who bring their dinners. From 
the end of the hall is the two covered walks, for boys and girls, 
to the well arranged and ventilated brick building in the rear, 
18 by 28. To the right of the main hall is a long hall, 5 feet 
wide, leading to the vestibule and door on Johnson street, 
and on each side of this wing is a school room 24-4 by 35 feet, 
each prepared to seat 40 pupils, and each having a dressing 
room 5 by 25 feet. 

" From the main hall are stairs leading to the upper corridor, 
11 by 13. To the right from this corridor is a door into the wing. 
This is one of the pleasantest rooms in the building, 23-10 by 
33 feet with desks for 45, and from it is a door leading into a 
dressing room 11 by 20, located over the vestibule. There is 
also a door from the corridor to this room. To the left of the 
corridor is a door into the High School room, in the main 
building, on Wisconsin avenue. It is 33 by 41 feet, and will 
seat 90 pupils. The building will now seat 221 students. From 
this room and the corridor are doors to the boys' dressing- 
room, 10x27; the library, 14x27, and the recitation room, 15x27. 
The library is to be used as a recitation room for the present. 

" The building is wainscoted, the school rooms 3 feet from 
floor, the corridor 5, and the dressing rooms 7 feet. The walh 
in the school room are prepared for chalk some distance above 
the wainscoting, by a green preparation of prepared slate. 
The windows have weights and inside blinds; the floors are 
double, narrow pine, and the upper one is " deafened." The 



FOVR LAKE COVNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 365 

work is admirably finished, and was grained in oak by Mr. Pol- 
lard of this city. The building is heated by three large and 
three small Boynton furnaces. They are yoked together in 
pairs, the large one on the off side, as is usual with oxen. In 
moderate weather the small ones work alone; in colder weather 
the large ones work alone, and in very cold weather they all 
work together. They were put in admirably under the super- 
vision of Mr. Cammack, of the firm of M. Joachim & Co., of this 
city. The ventilation is on the improved Ruttan system, the 
foul air passing through a perforated base board and to the 
foul air shaft, 6 feet square and 62 feet high. This is an ad- 
mirable arrangement for health and comfort, and too much 
praise cannot be bestowed on the Board for introducing it. 

" The basement is roomy and well arranged for taking fresh 
cold air for the furnace, storing coal and managing the heating 
apparatus; in fact from the bell in the tower to the brick of the 
basement floor, it is convenient and complete, an educational 
temple which some of the great men of the future will remem- 
ber with delight, we hope. 

'' The following is a list of members of the Board of Education: 
J. H. CarpexXter, President; W. T. Leitch, E. Burdick, Alex. 
Kerr, Robt. Woottoi^, Jas. Conkl^, J. C. Gregory and J. 0. 
Ford. 

" The Building Committee are E. Burdick, J. H. Carpenter 
and J. C. Gregory." 

From the annual report of the Board of Education for the 
year 1873, we learn the whole number of school children be- 
tween 4 and 20, was 1,842 males, 1,955 females; total 3,798; 
number of pupils in all schools enrolled, 1,183; Receipts, 
$37,785.41; of which 125,000 was from loan from school land 
commissioners; and expenditures 134,760.62, of which amount 
$17,072.43 was for building High School; 812,105.22 for teacher's 
wages, and the remainder for fuel, janitors, repairs, etc. The 
whole number of teachers employed, 25. Samuel Shaw, Su- 
perintendent. 

The following statistics of the improvements in Madison in 
1873, are also taken from the State Journal: 



366 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AND THE 

" Any one living or visiting here, who has " kept his eyes 
open," must have noticed that there has been considerable 
building going on during the past year in our beautiful city, 
including some substantial business blocks and handsome resi- 
dences; but few we apprehend, realize, what the figures below 
show, that over 8300,000 has been expended in building im- 
provements in the Capital City during the past year. The 
buildings erected too, like most of those constructed within the 
last few years, in substantial material, good workmanship and 
beauty of design, will compare favorably with those of any city 
of its size in the State. We submit a list of the principal 
buildings during the past season, for which we are mainly in- 
debted to Mr. W. T. Fish, of the firm of Fish & Stephens, 
one of our principal contractors and builders: 

FIRST WARD. 

The new Congregational Church, built of Madison stone, from 
the quarries of Messrs. Fish & Stephens, is nearly completed 
at a cost, including furnishing of about - - - $40,000 

The High School building ou Wisconsin avenue, built of cream 

colored brick, with stone trimmings, cost about - 22,000 

The splendid residence of A. H. Main, on Langdon street, built 

of brick and cost -..-.. 6, 500 

Mrs. Neeley Gray, on Washington avenue, has built a neat 

brick house, costing . . . • - 3,500 

Mr. Alex. Gill's brick store, on State street, cost - - 3,500 

Mr. Thomas Rock has made additions to his residence to the 

amount of - - - - - - - 2, 000 

second ward. 

The flouring mill and brewery so recently destroyed by fire, have 
been, by the energy of the respective proprietors Messrs. 
RoBBiNS & Thornton and Mr. John Rodermund, entirely 
replaced by new and substantial structures and machinery, at 
a cost of nearly ...... 50,000 

The solid cut-stone walls of the new Methodist Church on Wiscon- 
sin avenue, are nearly up to the auditorium floor, and have 
cost thus far about ..•-..- 10,000 

Mr. Truman Bird's Carriage Repository, on Main street, 22x66 

of brick cost ....... 5,500 

Mr. E. M. Williamson's cottage residence on Pinckney, street, 

cost - . . . - . . 2,500 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY pF WISCONSIN. 367 

Mr. J. H. Stewart has made additions and alterations to his 
purchase of the late residence ot D. R. GAimisoisr, Esq., to the 
amount of - - . . - . . 8,000 

THIRD WARD. 

Fairchild estate, elegant stone store, on Main street, adjoining the 

Vilas House, 28 by 63, three stories, occupied by J3. Kohner, 8, 000 
Edward Sumner's fine new residence of cream colored brick, cor- 
ner of Wisconsin avenue and Wilson street, - - 7,000 
Casper Mayer's handsome stone saloon, 22x63, on Main street, 6, 500 
Ramthen's brick hotel near the C. & N. W. R. R. depot 5,500 
Mr. J. G. Ott, brick residence, - - . . 5,500 
Mr. O. C. Mallows, brick residence, .... 5,000 
Heltman's planing mill, cost .... 4, 000 

FOLTITH WARD. 

Messrs. Daggett, Fred Mohr, Christophers & Co, have united 
in erecting a substantial brick block, 66 feet front, by about 
85 feet deep, on Main street, costing some - - 16,000 

The residence of Gen. David Atwood, a model of convenience, 
enclosed and ready for plastering, to be finished July 1, 1874, 
and will cost from $12,000 to - - - - 15, 000 

Prof. B. M. Worthington's elegant residence on Wilson street 

built of cut stone, cost - - . . . 7,000 

Alderman Thos. Dean's planing mill on Main street, cost, 5,000 

Mr. John Fay's neat residence of brick, cost - . 3,200 

Mr. Wm. Slightam's new house of brick, cost ... 2, 000 

Mr. F. Bliss has a new frame house, costing . - 2, 000 

Opposite the county oflSces, on Fairchild street, near the court 
house, is Chandler P. Chapman's building for abstract office 
and fire-proof vaults, costing . . • . 3, 800 

state work. 

In addition to the above, the work of building the coal vaults, re- 
moving the boilers and finishing the basement of the capitol 
building, as well as other improvements in and about the 
State building and grounds, have furnished employment to 
many, and have cost about - . . - $35,000 

At the Hospital for the Insane has been added a new stone 
building for an ice house, also one for a carpenter shop, cos- 
ing about --.--. 7,000 



368 HIS TOBY OF MADISON AXD THE 

MINOR BUILDINGS. 

Many smaller buildings have also been completed during the 
year, and many ^valuable and costly improvements to other 
properties have been made, among which we refer to the 
changing of the fronts of the old Fairchild block and the 
transmogrification of the old Argvs office into a steam ba- 
kery, together costing some thousands. A considerable num- 
ber of small cottages have been built. All these minor im- 
provements would probably aggregate - - - 50,000 

In the month of November, Mrs. Laura A. Richards, of 
this place, formerly of Sparta, Wis., presented to the Congre- 
gational Church a bell from the foundry of Mekeely & KiM- 
BERLY, of Troy, N. Y., of 2,043 pounds weight, being some 
800 pounds heavier than any other bell in the city, and costing 
over $1,000. Its rich, deep tones were heard for the first time 
on the 22d of November, and were greatly admired. 

From Brain-ard's City Directory, for 1873, the following 
business statistics have been taken: Dealers in agricultural im- 
plements, 7 firms; attorneys, 23 firms; banking institutions, 
8; blacksmiths, 10; booksellers and stationers, 4; boot and shoe 
dealers, 8 firms; breweries, 5; contractors and builders, 6; car- 
riage and wagon manufactories, 6; tobacco and cigars, 7; cloth- 
ers, 10; druggists, 6; dry goods, 13; fruits and confectionery, 7; 
furniture, 5; gentlemen's furnishing, 5; grocers, 30; hardware, 
3; harness makers, 8; furriers and hatters, 3; hotels, 16; livery 
stables, 4; lumber dealers, 4; meat markets, 8; millinery, 5; 
music dealers, 4; house painters, 5; photographers, 4; physi- 
cians, 15; printing and publishing, 8; real estate dealers, 4; in- 
surance agencies, 10; saloons, 25; jewelry stores, 7, and a large 
variety of the usual occupations now found in every place, not 
above enumerated. 

On the 19th of October, 1873, the 'Farwell Mills,' which, at 
the date of their erection, were hardly surpassed in the north- 
west, were a smoking ruin, hiding the body of one of the em- 
ployes in the debris. The enterprising proprietors, Messrs. 
RoBBiNS & Thorntoit, immediately took the preliminary steps 
toward putting up a new mill. On the 17th of November the 
work of erection begun, and on the 21st of February, 1874, 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 369 

with all its complicated machinery, it had progressed so far 
that the feed stone begun grinding, and soon after was in the 
full tide of successful operation. 

Externally, the mill is four square, the same size as the old 
mill, without the disused wing, and is four stories high, with 
unsphced timbers, 50 feet long on a side; 4 by 6 joists and tim- 
bers, 46 feet long, also unspliced, perpendicularly. It is set up 
2i feet higher than the old mill. The sides are covered with 
matched boarding, sheathing paper and clap boarding, thus 
making the building very warm, and painted a pearl color, 
with dark drab trimmings. The roof is flat, thoroughly 
tinned. It has also an observatory commanding an extensive 
view. One hundred and fifty thousand feet of timber were used 
on the mill. 

Lake Mendota furnishes the motive power, as it pours over 
four turbine wheels, each self-supporting, one of which is 65 
inches in diameter; a second, 56 inches; a third, 66 inches 
and the other 60 inches. There are five run of stone of the 
best French burr. Within, the mill throughout is supplied 
with all the modern improvements found advantageous in mak- 
mg the very best quality of flour, and furnished with the most 
perfectly adjusted and easily controlled machinery, which runs 
without jar and almost without noise. 

The annual city election took place on the 7th of April, 
1874. There was but little of the activity and enthusiasiu 
sometimes shown. For the office of Mayor, Hon. H. H. Giles, 
Republican candidate, received 505 votes, and S. U. Pixxey,* 
the Democratic and Liberal candidate, 1,015, who was elected 
by a majority of 510. Gottleib Grimm received 942 votes for 
Treasurer, against Richard Lyjs^ch, who received 585 votes. 

*Hon. Silas U. Pinney is a son of J. C. Pinney, a native of Becket, 
Berkshire county, Mass. He was born at Rockdale, Crawford countv, Pa , 
March 3, 1S33, to which place his parents had removed in 1815, and in 
1846, to Dane countv, Wis. Was admitted to the bar in Februarv 1S54 
and has ever since practiced his profession in this citv. Mr. Pinnev was 
City Attorney in 185S; a member of the City CounciUn 1S65, and elected 
Mayor at the spring election of 1874. 



370 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Thomas C. Bourke, Geo. A. Masok, Johk G. Ott and L. D. 
Stoke were elected Supervisors. The Aldermen elected were: 
1st ward, Geo. Memhard and Thos. Hayden; 2d ward, T. B. 
WoRTHmGTOK and W. K. Bari^ey; 3d ward, Darwin- Clark 
^nd F. M. DoRi^; 4tli ward, P. L. Spooker, Jr., and M. P. 
Walsh. For Municipal Judge, A. B. BraleyI received an 
unanimous vote — 1,489. 

Mr. Pii^NEY, the Mayor elect, in his message on taking the 
office, gave the following statistics: the receipts of the past 
year were, 1112,720; the expenditures, 185,037; leaving a bal- 
ance on hand of $27,684. The bonded debt of the city amounts 
to $230,000, of which $50,000 is capital extension, the rest 
mostly compromise bonds. 

Alderman Bunker was elected President of the Council, and 
JoHiyf CoRSCOT unanimously elected City Clerk. The Mayor 
nominated the following officers, who were unanimously con- 
firmed: Chief of Police, A^nTDREW Bishop., Ward Policemen: 
T. C. BouRKE, 1st; H. A. Dyke, 2d; W. A. Bradley, 3d, and 
JoHiq- L. Lewis, 4th. 

The City Council elected the following officers: Street Super- 
intendent, Akdrew Bishop; City Attorney, Chas. K. Teistney; 
City Surveyor, James Quirk; Janitor, Joh]N" Joy; Poundmas- 
ter, Ezra Squires; Member of Board of Education, C P. 
Chapman. 

A resolution was adopted fixing the pay of city officers, as 
follows : 

City Clerk, ....... $1,00000 

City Treasurer, 800 00 

Street Superintendent, - . - - . 1,000 00 

f Arthur B. Braley was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., February ii, 
1822; came to Wisconsin in 1835, settled at Delavan, and was admitted to 
the practice of law in 1848, by Judge Dunn, then Territorial Judge. He 
practiced his profession, 'in 1849, at Johnstown, Rock county; came to 
Madison in 1853, ^"^ "^^^ a partner of Judge S. H. Roys. In 1869, he re- 
moved to Waukesha, but subsequently returned to Madison. He has held 
the office of Police Justice for the years 1856 to 1861, inclusive, and in 1872 
and 1873, a"d Municipal Judge, 1874. I" 1S68, he was City Attorney. 



250 00 


500 00 


150 00 


50 00 


400 00 


100 00 


50 00 


25 00 


1 50 


1 00 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 371 



"City Attorney, .....-- 
Cit}^ Assessor, ....,, 

Chief Engineer Fire Department, .... 

Assistant Engineer Fire Department, 

Engineers of Steamers, ...... 

Firemen of Steamers, . . . - , 

Stewards of Steamers, with leather hose. 

Stewards of Steamers, with rubber hose, 

Janitor (besides '$1 for use of hall each night, paid by hirer), 

per day, - - - 

Poundmaster (besides fees), per day, .... 



In the month of April a new iron bridge was set up across 
the Yahara, to take the place of the one consumed by fire in 
October, 1873. The new bridge is known as the Peery & Al- 
LEi^ Eureka Wrought Iron Bridge, and was manufactured by 
0. B. Olmstead & Co., of Beloit. This bridge is a single span, 
of eighty feet, and the floor is sixteen feet wide in the clear; its 
ends rest upon two buttresses of solid masonry. It is com- 
posed mainly of eight lower straining cords — four on a side — 
each of which is one and a half inches in diameter, supported 
by two arches, each of which consists of eight arch cords, of 
one and a half inches in diameter; the arches and straining cords 
being connected and braced by a vast number of iron rods. All 
the iron used in the structure is wrought, except the massive 
sho*es which confine the ends of the arches and straining cords, 
and the clamps confining the arch cords where they break 
joints. 

In the latter part of the month of March, a chime of nine 
bells was received from the foundry of Octayous Jokes, Troy, 
N. Y., for Grace church, and on the first of April were hung 
in place. The largest, " The Bishop's Bell," or tenor bell, and 
one known as the seventh was purchased by general subscrip- 
tion. The others are individual gifts, the donors indicated by 
the subscriptions, except the eighth, which was the gift of Mrs. 
Watermaj^. 

The tenor, third and fifth are mounted, and can be rung 
separately, or as a peal. All are arranged with wires and lev- 



372 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

ers for cliiming, and can be played either on the key of E flat, 
from one to eight of the scale, or, by substituting the flat sev- 
enth D flat for the seventh (D natural), in the key of A. flat, 
from five to five of the scale. All tunes to be played on the 
chimes will be transposed into one or the other of these keys. 

We are indebted to the Rector of the church. Rev. Johi^t 
WiLKixsoN", for the following schedule of the chime, with key, 
weight and inscription of the several bells in their order. 

SCHEDULE. 

No. 1.— Key E flat. Weight, 2,531 lbs. The Bishops' Bell. In memory 
of the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D. and the Rt. Rev. Wm. Edmond 
Armitage, S. T. D, first Bishops of Wisconsin. " They rest from 
their labors, and their works do follow them." 

No. 2.— Key F. Weight, 1,601 lbs. In memoriam. Emma Eugenia Baker, 
ob. A. D. 1856. " He gathereth the lambs in his arms." 

No. 3.— Key G-. Weight, 1, 364 lbs. The gift of Mrs. Amelia Curtiss Ful- 
ler, who entered into rest, A. D. 1872. " Blessed are the dead who 
die in the Lord." 

No. 4. -Key A flat. Weight, 1,068 lbs. In memory of Sarah Maria 

Proudfit. " The maid is not dead, but sleepeth." 
No. 5.— Key B flat. Weight, 819 lbs. The Children's Bell. To the 

glory and praise of the Holy Child Jesus, " and the children crying 

in the Temple, Hosanna to the son of David." 

No. 6.— Key C. Weight, 669 lbs. In memory of Mrs. Emma Fuller 
Stevens, who died A. D. 1870. " I know that my Redeemer live^h.'* 

No. 7.— Key D flat. Weight, 604 lbs. In loving memory of William, 
John and James Sullivan. " Numbered with Thy Saints, in glory 
everlasting." M. A. S. 

No. 8.— Key D. Weight, 526 lbs. " We praise Thee, O God." 

No. 9.— Key E flat. Weight, 415 lbs. " Glory be to God on High." 

"The new Congregational church — Rev. C. H. Richaeds, 
pastor — the construction of which has been watched with in- 
terest, not only by the members of the society for whom it has 
been built, but by the community generally, was dedicated on 
the 3d day of May. The event was the most important one in 
the history of the Congregational church of Madison, the pio- 
neer church of the capital, having been organized in 1840, and 



FOTJB LAKE COUSTBT OF TTISCOXSIX. 373 

whose chapel, built in 1858, has long been much too small for 
the uses of the Society. The following facts in regard to this 
edifice, which is one of the most beautiful and commodious in 
the State, and an ornament to the city, in which every public 
spirited citizen will take a pride, will be of interest. 

"The church is built of gray cut stone, in the shape of a 
Greek cross, with the arms of equal length. It was designed 
by G. P. Randall, of Chicago, and is similar to the beautiful 
structure built by the same architect for the Union Park 
Church in Chicago. Its construction has been under the su- 
perintendence of Mr. D. B. Jones, architect of this city The 
cornerstone was laid June 13, 1872, and the walls were nearly 
finished at the end of that year. In 1873, the exterior of the 
building was completed, and most of the work in the interior of 
the main audience room, but the finishing touches were not 
given to It till within the last few weeks. The basement is not 
finished and will not be at present. The length of each axis 
of the church is about 80 feet, and it is adorned with a steeple 
180 feet high. It is intended ultimately to put a front on the 
old chapel which adjoins the new church, and opens into it, 
harmonizing with the main edifice, and making all one 

In the audience room -to which there are two entrances, in 
rout and rear - the seats are arranged in semicircles, about the 
the pulpit, wi h five aisles, and a graceful gallery encircles the 
entire room, hat portion of it in the rear of the pulpit bein. 
occupied by the organ and choir. There are 152 pews in the 
auditorium, with siittings for 650 on the floor, and 350 in the 
gallery leaving ample space for the accommodation of two or 
three hundred more with extra seats. Ample arrangements 
have been made for the perfect ventilation of this audience 
room, both in summer and winter. " a consummation devoutly 
to be wished by all church-goers. It is heated with Boynton 
urnaces, of such power and capacity as to make it seem certain 
that he RuiTAN ventilation will be thoroughly secured. 

Of those engaged in the erection of this church, we may men- 
rv"n!rr ^""™^^'^' •■'« ^^^ ''«iWers of the mason work; Sor- 
es, .on & Fredekickson, as having done the carpenter work- 



374 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

Bishop & Muekay, as the plasterers; and Pollard & Egge, as 
the painters, all of this city. The beautiful stained glass win- 
dows were made by Misch Brothers, of Chicago ; and the taste- 
ful frescoing was done by Schubert & Koenig, of the same 
city, with an artistic skill that has elsewhere won them a repu- 
tation as being among the best workmen in this department in 
the northwest. 

^' The carpets are a rich dark red ingrain, and the cushions 
of the harmonious tint of ' ponso ' ; this portion of the fur- 
nishing having been energetically carried forward by the 
ladies of the Society, many of whom have labored inde- 
fatigably in the good cause, and the upholstery has been under 
the skilful direction of W. B. Barckham, of this city. 

''The splendid bell that summons the worshippers to the 
house, the gift of Mr. L. A. Richards, was cast by Men"eeley 
& Kimberly of Troy, and weighs 2,045 pounds. 

" The organ, one of the largest and finest in the State, was 
built by Marshall Brothers' Organ Manufacturing Company 
of Milwaukee, and has three manuals of keys, two octaves of 
pedals, and 36 stops. 

At the dedicatory services held on the 3d day May, after 
the delivery of the sermon by Rev. J. S. Bi]srGHAM, D. D., of 
Dubuque, Iowa, the President of the Board of Trustees, F. J. 
Lamb, Esq., read a statement of the financial condition of the 
Society, as follows: 

'' The cost of the church building proper was 137,716.4:7, as 
follows : 

Mason work, $16,729 30 

Carpenters, 15,805 00 

Plastering, 1,275 00 

Windows, 1, 100 00 

Iron work, , . 600 00 

Painting, 873 00 

Frescoing, 400 00 

Architects' plans, - - 934 17 

''The appurtenances of the church cost 110,950, as follows: 

Gas fixtures, $935 00 

Lumber, walks, etc., 260 00 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 37a 

Furnaces, etc., g^^^ ^^ 

^°"'°''' 1,200 00 

Carpets, etc., gg^ 00 

Upholstering, g^ ^^ 

ff: 1,000 00 

^^''"'' ------ 15000 

^'<="'"' 50 00 

Communion set, 7~ 00 

Communion table, g^ ^^ 

^^^"°' .'.'-'.' 5,000 00 

" This made the aggregate cost of the church, so far as com- 
pleted, 134,666.47. 

" There has been raised and paid on this outlay, from the 
general subscription list, 124,300. There has been paid by 
specific donations (including sundry items specified in the list 
of contributions elsewhere, and also the bell by Mrs. S. M. 
RiCHAKDS, 11,000, and the chairs by J. B. Bowej^, 8150 not 
specified), $1,320. ' ' 

^ "There has thus been paid in all, $25,620; leaving unpaid, 
$23,046.47. Of this, a permanent loan of $10,000, is made of 
the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and there 
IS owing to the builders, $7,013.47; for the organ, $5,000; to 
Timothy Browk, $1,033. 

'' To meet this, there is available on original subscription, 
$3,500; on organ subscription, $1,320, making a total of $4,821, 
and leaving to be provided for at once, $18,225.47. 

After reading this statement an efi'ort was made to por- 
vide for the liquidation of the debt, which was very successful, 
and it was announced at the close of the appeal, that morj 
than $20,000 had been assumed and pledged — more than enough 
to meet the whole debt."* 

Reference has been made to the elegant dAvelling of Gen. 
David Atwood on lot 4, block 85, corner of Wisconsin avenue 
and Clymer street. The following is an account of the building 
and its internal arrangements: 

The house fronts on Wisconsin avenue, and the main part i& 
nearly square, being 45 by 46 feet, two full stories high, with 
* From the Sfa^e Journal, May 4, 1S74. 



376 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

French or Mansard roof, thus giving a complete third story. 
In rear, is a wing, 29 by 26 feet, one story high, with French 
roof. The front door opens into a vestibule and hall, 9 feet 
wide, which extends back thirty feet. Opening from it to the 
left is a double parlor, 16 by 29 feet; to the right, the sitting 
room is entered, being 16 by 15 feet, with a large bay window; 
adjoining that, with double doors between, is a library room, 
and adjoining that, is a large bed room with bath room and 
clothes press attached. From the end of the hall, the dining 
room is entered, the size of which is 14 by 26 feet. These 
rooms occupy the first story in the main part, which is 12 feet 
in the clear. In the wing is the kitchen, with the necessary 
pantries, etc. The cellar extends under the whole building, 
and under the kitchen part, a room is finished for a laundry. 
The second floor of the main part, is divided into six chambers, 
a hall and bathing room, with closets for each room. In the 
third story, a hall extends the length of the house, with rooms 
on either side. The second story of wing is divided into three 
bed rooms, and a store room, with closet for each. The rooms 
on the first and second floors are supplied with hot and cold 
water. Drainage from all parts of the house into the lalce, is 
secured. Four rooms — the parlor, dining room, library and 
bed room — have fire places with grates. The mantels were 
furnished- by Abu ah Abbott, Esq. The house is built of light 
colored brick, made at Waterloo, and presents a fine appear- 
ance. It is thoroughly finished from top to bottom, and style 
and convenience, there are but few if any, superior to it, in the 
city. All the contractors have performed their work promptly 
and well; and Mr. Atwood and family moved into their new 
residence in July, 1874. 

The Rev. Mr. Hays of the Presbyterian church, on Sunday, 
May 4, preached his first anniversary sermon, and gave the 
following statistics: received as members on profession of faith 
34, by letter 17, total 57. Contributed to foreign missions 
$250, home missions 1185, education $109, church erection, 
$102, relief fund $89, sustentation $33, publication $29, freed- 
men $27, total $1,077; also, for congregational expenses, includ- 
ing part for repairs, $8,868. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 377 

Of late years, Madison has been visited in the summer sea- 
son by tourists from southern cities, who find it a desirable 
and pleasant location to spend their annual vacation. Few lo- 
calities possess the advantages of Madison in natural beauty of 
scenery. Volumes could be filled with descriptive letters writ- 
ten by the most distinguished literary men of the country, 
and published in various magazines and newspapers, setting 
forth the charms of our city. Some of these articles we have 
before alluded to. 

The opening of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, 
northwest of Madison, has opened up to tourists the romantic 
scenery of the Devil's Lake and Baraboo Blufi's; and, although 
this section is not strictly included in our history, a short no- 
tice of these points, we think, will be acceptable to the reader. 
.We quote from Maj, H. A. Tenney's account: 

" The bluffs of the Wisconsin at the point where the Bara- 
boo river embouches into the valley, are 600 feet in height. In 
the midst of this enormous rocky stratum, is a deep fissure or 
gorge, depressed over 400 feet from the surface, hemmed in by 
mighty precipices, which constitute the basin of a body of wa- 
ter about a mile and a half in length by a half mile in breadth, 
known as the Devil's Lake. It reposes like a dew drop in its 
mighty casket, and from its profound depths reflects the dark 
shadows of the beetling crags that environ it. The level of 
the waters is 190 feet above the Wisconsin river, and it is sup- 
posed that the bottom reaches below that of the river. There 
is not in the west a sample of as bold, ragged and striking 
scenery, or one more pleasing to the tourist. The country 
about has been the former seat of intense igneous action, and 
it is generally supposed that the cavity was created by the 
sinking of the bottom through volcanic agency. This is not, 
probably correct, but no explanation of the origin of this 
strange lake has ever been vouchsafed, at least no satisfactory 
one. A two hours' ride on the cars from Madison will land the 
visitor directly on the shore, and a small steamer will give him 
every opportunity for exploration. The whole section is wild 

and full of interest." 
25 



578 HISTORY OF MADISON AND THE 

A history of Madison and the Four Lake Country would 
not be complete without referring to the " Great Cave of Dane 
County."* We are indebted to Maj. H. A. Tenney for the fol- 
lowing description: 

"About 11 miles distant, and a little southwest of Madison^, 
near the crest of the dividing ridge which separates the lake 
region from the valley of Sugar river, there exists the basin of 
an ancient pond or. lake covering about four thousand acres, 
whose waters have long since departed, and whose drainage is 
directly into the face of a blufp. This inlet, a quarter of a cen- 
tury ago, was penetrated to a depth of nearly two thousand 
feet, and yet has never been fully explored, or its mysterious 
depths examined by mortal eye. It is about five hundred feet 
above the level of the four Lakes, and the ppenings apparently 
tend to the west. Sugar river is about one and a half miles' 
distant, but no evidence has ever been discovered to warrant 
the belief that these waters any where enter or make a part of 
that stream. All indications, indeed, point to the certainty 
that it is an entrance to that vast subterranean river system 
known to permeate the lead region at a great depth, and whose 
unknown outlet may be hundreds of miles away. Early ex- 
plorers always halted from fatigue or lack of adequate prepara- 
tion to proceed, and not because the way was not open; and 
nothing like an end has ever been reached. 

''The deposit in which this immense grotto exists, is the cliff" 
or upper magnesian limestone, which at this point is known to 
be underlaid by a sandstone formation, whose thickness is prob- 
ably forty or fifty feet. That the channel has been cut down 
to this more friable material, at some point of its course, is not 
doubted, and hence it is naturally concluded that, if followed 
to the line of junction, the dimensions of the cave would swell 
to colossal proportions. As it exists at present, there are four 
narrow entrances, badly choked by the debris fallen at the 
mouth, or material carried in by currents. The two most 
southern openings unite at the distance of some fifty or sixty 

* This cave is located on the northeast part of section 5, in the town of 
Verona^ on lands belonging to Mr. D. Richardson. 



FOVR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 379 

feet, from whence cayern succeeds cavern, so far as known, for 
thousands of feet. Once within this rocky chamber, there was 
formerly no serious obstacle to progress; but the present diffi- 
culty of entrance has kept thousands from the spot. It has 
also had the effect of keeping the walls of the interior openings 
in a much damper condition than they otherwise would be, by 
preventing the draft of outer air, which passes steadily through 
the whole known extent of the cavern. The far inner rooms 
have all the usual characteristics of the most noted caves in the 
country. Pendent stalactite has its corresponding stalagmite, 
at present much discolored by the newly added sediment. The 
walls are worn into strange and fantastic shapes, and everywhere 
exhibit the erosive power of rushing water. Long corridors 
and halls, whose smooth, rocky sides would seem to bid defiance 
to any power, connect the numerous vestibules and chambers, 
some of which are from twenty to thirty feet in height, and of 
great and almost unknown depth. 

" That the cave consists of several stories is evident from nu- 
merous indications, both exterior and interior. It is proved by 
the sound of voices when large parties are exploring the nu- 
merous ramifications ; by variations in level; and more particu- 
larly by a whirlpool in seasons of flood, outside the entrance,, 
which proves that the ancient channel has been choked by 
fallen rocks, and underlies the whole cavern thus far examined. 
It is still further proved by the clean cut bank of the outside 
water course, whose bottom is several feet below the present 
entrance — an impossible achievement if they were the natural 
inlet. Still further, no pond or water ever remains in front of 
the cave, in the basin below the existing entrance level, which 
would be impossible if it did not have a subterranean escape. 
Once cleared of accumulated debris, and instead of one or more, 
there would probably be found a cave of several stories, the 
lower of which would amply suffice to drain the region, leav- 
ing the others ordinarily dry and intact. Until this is done, 
the full extent and beauty of this mighty freak of nature will 
never be fully known or appreciated. Parties living close at 
hand give wonderful accounts of the phenomena witnessed 



380 HISTORY OF MADISON AXD THE 

after great and sudden floods, when the waters, dammed back 
by the choked entrance, rise ten or fifteen feet against the face 
of the cavern, compressing the inner air, which escapes 
through small fissures, to the crest of the hill, with a hiss and . 
a roar somewhat akin to the shriek of a steam whistle. At one 
spot, indeed, the conversation of parties deep in the cave can 
be heard directly overhead, showing that if extra ventilation 
were ever needed it could be easily provided for. Anything 
like floods, in this elevated basin, however, are extremely rare, 
and could only occur after long cqntinued rains, or the sudden 
melting of great and heavy bodies of snow. No rain-fall from 
May to November has ever been known large enough to send 
any water into the opening, nor does any enter during the 
months of winter. 

" It is greatly to be regretted that drift-wood and other ma- 
terial have been allowed access, and to accumulate in such 
quantities as to preclude thorough explorations. Fossil re- 
mains of the mastodon, the mammoth and the elephant, as well 
as of other extinct species, have been found in deep fissures in 
various parts of the lead region; and there is every reason to 
suspect their existence here. These cavities originated from a 
common cause, and have a natural relation to each other. Sci- 
ence had much to anticipate from the revelations of this vast 
subterranean tunnel. Its buried chambers, of curious form and 
magnificent proportions would have been the delight of future 
generations, if rendered accessible. Possibly the entrance rub- 
bish of the lowest cavity may yet be removed, and by that 
means the upper chambers be cleansed and restored. In any 
event, the spot will be visited by the curious, as it is unlike any 
other cavern in the country, and the only one whose entrance 
is at its source, and not the mouth. The darkness that hides its 
interior secrets covers a great mystery." 

In closing up our history, we would only say that we have 
endeavored simply, but faithfully to portray Madison as it was 
and has become. Thirty-seven years have wrought many 
changes. A few of those who came here at the beginning of 
the settlement of the town still remain. Our good friend Mrs. 



FOUR LAKE COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN. 381 

Peck resides at Baraboo, of wliicli place she was also the first 
settler. Gen. Simeon- Mills, Darwin- Clark, Esq., and Mrs. 
Prosper B. Bird still reside here. Of the other settlers of 
1837-38, a number are residents of other Wisconsin towns. Few 
realize the privations of those who came here as pioneers to 
subdue the country to the wants of civilization. They per- 
formed their work patiently and well, and we live to reap the 
fruit of their labors. 

The future is before us. Ours may never be a city remarka- 
ble for mammoth proportions, manufactures and the busy life 
that characterizes a metropolis, but in all that makes it a de- 
lightful place of residence, with its unsurpassed advantages of 
beauty and healthfulness of location, educational, literary and 
other privileges, we are assured that its fame will not, cannot 
grow less, but that steady progress is before it, and that Madi- 
son will ever maintain a proud place among the growing and 
prosperous cities of our State and of the West. 



APPENDIX. 



LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF MADISON, 

FROM ITS INCORPOKATION IN 1856, TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 1874. 



1856. 

Mayor — Jairus C. Fairchild. Street Superin't — (Senior Aldermen), 

Clerk— William N. Seymour. Marshal— Fred. Mohr. 

"Treasurer — Johnson J. Starks. City Attorney — Dayid R. Coit. 
Police Justice— Arthur B. Braley. City Surveyor— P. W. McCabe. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward— Ariel E. Brooks, Thomas Heeran, Adam Kraez. 

Second Ward— Napoleon B. Van Slyke, John N. Jones, Dayid J. 
Powers. 

Third Ward — Charles George Mayers, Peter H. VanBergen,' Wil- 
liam F. Baker,2 Algernon S. Wood. 

Fourth Ward — Seth M. Van Bergen, Joseph Hobbins, Timothy Kin- 
ney, 
1 Resigned. ^ Elected Aug. 28, 1856. 



1857. 

Mayor — Augustus A, Bird. Police Justice — Arthur B. Braley. 

Clerk— William N. Seymour.' Street Superin't— (Senior Aldermen). 

Stephen H. Carpenter.^ Chief of Police— Andrew Bishop. 
Treasurer — Fred. Sauthoff. City Att'ys — Abbott, Clark & CoiT. 

City Surveyor— William M. Hough. 

aldermen. 

First Ward — Ariel E. Brooks, Thomas Heeran, Casper Zwicky. 
Second Ward— Napoleon B. Van Slyke, David J. Powers, Julius T. 
Clark. 3 



384 APPENDIX. 

Third Ward— Charles Geokge Mayers, John G. Griffin, David R. 

Hyer. 
Fourth Ward — Seth M. Van Bergen, Timothy Kinney, Jos. Hobbins. 

1 Disabled by stroke of paralysis. 2 Elected Oct. 7, 1857. » Resigned March 3, 1858. 
Vacancy filled at charter election. 



1858. 



Mayor— George B. Smith. Street Superinten't— Simeon Mills. 

Clerk— Henry Wright. City Attorney— Silas U. Pinney. 

Treasurer— James K. Proudfit. City Surveyor— Wm. M. Hough.i 
Police Justice— Arthur B. Braley. Levi P. Drake.^ 

City Assessor— Henry K. Edgerton. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward— Thomas Heeran, A. Sherwin, Simeon Seckles. 
Second Ward— David J. Powers, Eri S. Oakley, James Jack. 
Third Ward— John G. Griffin, Darwin Clark, Christian Hinrichs. 
Fourth Ward— Timothy Kinney, Cassius Fairchild, Patrick L. Dow- 
ling. 
I Died. 2 Elected Dec. 20, 1858. 



1859. 
Mayor- George B. Smith. Street Sup't— Simeon Mills.^ 

Clerk— Charles George Mayers. Willard Knight.' 

Treasurer— Andrew Sexton. City Attorney— John R. Baltzell. 

Police Justice— Arthur B. Braley. City Surv^eyor— J. A. Ligowski. 
Chief of Police— John Shealey. City Assessor— Henry Wright. 

aldermen. 

First Ward— A. Sherwin, John Zehnpfennig, William Dudley. 
Second Ward— Eri S. Oakley, Joseph Bayer, Wiillam Hawley. 
Third Ward— Darwin Clark, Fred. C. Festner, Ezra C. Squires. 
Fourth Ward— Cassius Fairchild, John A. Byrne, Joseph Hobbins. 
1 Resigned. 2 Elected May,23, 1859. 



1860. 



Mayor— George B. Smith. Street Superintend't— J. A. Slavin. ^ 

Clerk— Charles Geo. Mayers. Chief of Police— F. S. Van Bergen.'^ 
Treasurer — J. C. Schette. City Attorney — C. Ainsworth. 

Police Justice— A. B. Braley. City Surveyor— P. W. McCabe. 
City Assessor — David H. Wright. 



MADISON CITY OFFICERS. 385 

ALDEKMEN. 

First Ward— John Zehnpfennig, Farrel 'Bryan, P. H. Turner. 
Second Ward-JosEPH Bayer, Jas. W. Sumner, Daniel K. Tenney 
Third Ward-FRED. C. Festner, Darwin Clark, Kyron Tierney. 
Fourtli Ward— John A. Byrne, Timothy Kinney, John Y. Smith. 

1 Keeigned January 5, 1861. 2 Elected January 5, 1861. 



1861. 

Mayor-LEYi B. Vilas. Police Justice-A. B. Braley. 

Clerk— Charles Geo. Mayers. ' Street Superintendent and Chief 

William A. Hayes. 2 of Police-F. S. Van Bergen. 

Treasurer-FRED. C. Festner. City Surveyor-LEvi P. Drake. 
City Assessor— George. H. Barwise. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward Farrel O'Bryan, George E. Bryant,^ Peter H. 

Turner. 

Second Ward-JAMES W. Sumner, Daniel K. Tenney, J. Alder 
Ellis. 

Third Ward— Darwin Clark, Kyron Tierney, John George Ott. 
Fourth Ward— Timothy Kinney, George B. Seekles, J. Y. Smith. 

I Resigned November 14, 1861. 2 Elected Nevember 14, 1861. 3 Kesigned February 24, 
1862. Vacancy unfilled until charter election, April 1, 1862. 



1862. 
Mayor-WiLLiAM T. Leitch. Street Superintendent and Chief 

Clerk-WiLLiAM A. Hayes. of Police- Andrew Bishop. 

Treasurer-FRED. B. Hutching. City Att'ys-WAKELEY & Vilas. 
Police Justice— C. Ainsworth. City Surveyor— Levi P. Drake. 
City Assessor— Peter H. Turner. 

aldermen. 
First Ward-JoHNKAVANAUGH, 2 Eliab B. Dean, Jr., Gottlieb Grimm 
Second Ward-DANiEL K. Tenney, ^ Jairus H. Carpenter,^ Tru- 

MAN E. Bird, A. C. Davis. 
Third Ward-KYRON Tierney, C. W. Hyel, W. M. Rasdall, James 

Ross. 
Fourth Ward-GEORGE B. Seekles, « Ed. C. Kavanaugh, Charles 

H. Luce, John Dunn. * 

J^ Appointed September 16, 1862. ^to fill vacancy. 3 Kesigned September 15,186". 
^^ Elected September 29, 1862. a Resigned September 18, 1862. ^ Resigned September 15, 



386 



APPENDIX. 



Mayor— William T. Leitch. 
Clerk— WiLLAM A. Hayes. 
'Treasurer— C. W. Heyl. 
City Surveyor— P. W. McCabe. 



1863, 

Police Justice — C. Ainsworth. 
City Attorney — Chas T. Wakeley. 
Street Superintendent and Chief 
of Police— A. Bishop. 



City Assessor— Peter H. Turner.^ 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward — Eliab B. Dean, Jr., John Monaghan, J. Zehnpfennig. 

Second Ward— Truman E. Bird, Jatrus H. Carpenter, H. M. Lewis. 

Third Ward— C. W. Heyl, ^ Kyron Tierney, ^ James Ross, John T. 
Stevens,^ Henry Winckler.^ 

Pourth Ward— Ed. C. Kavanaugh, Hiram N. Moulton, ^ Timothy Kin- 
ney, 5 Joseph Hobbins, ^ J. M. Dickinson.^ 

1 Resigned. Fred Mohr appointed May 2, 1863. 2 Resigned April 10, 1863. ' Elected 
April 17, 1863. * Resigned December 28, 1863. ^ Elected January 6, 1864. 



Hayor — William T. Leitch. 
City Clerk— JVm. A. Hayes.^ 

S. H. Carpenter.^ 
Treasurer — C. W. Heyl. 



1864. 

street Superintendent and Chief of 

Police — John B. Hyland. 
City Attorney — John R. Baltzell, 
City Surveyor— Patrick McCabe. 
Police Justice — James M. Flower. City Assessor — John Reynolds. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward — John Monaghan, Andrew Wald, Ebenezer Sprague,^ 

Arthur B. Braley.-^ 
Second Ward— Jairus H. Carpenter, Henry. M. Lewis, Timothy 

Brown. ^ 

Third Ward — James Ross, Kyron Tierney, Ernst Doerschlag. 
Fourth Ward— Timothy Kinney, J. M. Dickinson, George D. Lincoln. 

1 Resigned June 11, 1864, 2 Elected June 11, 1864. 3 Resigned June 3, 1864. ^Elected 
June 14, 1864. 



Mayor — Elisha W. Keyes. 
Clerk — S. H. Carpenter. 
Treasurer — John Reynolds. 
Police Justice— James M. Flower 
City Attorney— H. W. Tenney. 



1865, 

Street Superintendent and Chief of 

Police— Ira W. Bird. 
City Surveyor— P. W. McCabe.^ 
Levi P. Drake.^ 
City Assessor— Wm. T. Leitch. 



AADISON CITY OFFICERS. S87 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward-ANDREW Wald, Arthur B. Braley, John Heeran 

Second yrard-HENRY M. Lewis, L. 8. Ingman, John Corscot 

Tlnrd Ward-KYRON Tierney, Erenezer Sprague, August Her- 

FURTH. 

Fourth Ward-J. M. Dickinson,3 Silas U. Pinney,^ Th.u)deus W 
Gibes, Johnson J. Stares. 

Jun!~ '"''"'''''''' ^^^^^^«^J"^yl4,1865. 3 Resigned June 2, 1865. ^Elected 



1866. 



Mayor-ELiSHA W. Keyes. Street Superintendent-I. W Bird 

Clerk-S. a Carpenter. Chief of Police-BEN. F. Larkin' 

Treasurer-S. V. Shipman. City Attorney-C. T. Wakeley. 

Police Justice-JoHN R. Baltzell. City Surveyor-LEvi P. Drake. 
City Assessor—C. G. Mayers. 

ALDEEMEN. 

First Ward-ARTHUR b'. Braley, James Conklin, Hannibal Lacher 
Second Ward -L. S. Ingman, Henry M. Lewis, John Corscot. 
Third Ward-EBENEZER Sprague, Kyron Tierney, B. M. Nienaber 
Fourth Ward-THAD. W. Gibbs, Geo! W. McDougal,' Waldo Abeel,^ 

L. D. StONE,^ J. C. McKlNNEY. 

^ Failed to qualify. . Elected April 25, 1866. Resigned November 1, 1866. « Elected 
December 17, 1866. 



1867. 



Mayor-ALDEN S. Sanborn. Chief of Police- Wm. Hickey ' 

Clerk-S. H. Carpenter. ,^^^ ^^^^^^, 

Treasurer-GEO. Memhard. City Attorney-C. T. Wakeley. 

Police Justice-JoHNR. Baltzell. City Surreyor-P. W AIcC^be 
Street Superintendent-A. Bishop. City Assessor-Tnos. C. Bourke 



ALDERMEN. 



First Ward-JAMES Conklin, Robert Nichols, Samuel Engel 
Second Ward-HENRY M. Lewis, Myron T. Bailey, A. Riley Jones 
Third Ward-KYRON Tierney, H. Christoffers, Peter B. Kissam 
Fourth Ward-L. D. Stone, Hiram N. Moulton, Simon Foran. 
6 \mr^'^ October 11, 1867. ^Appointed November 26, 1867. 3 Elected September 



888 APPENDIX. 

1868. 

Mayor— David Atwood. Street Supt.— Andrew Bishop. 

Clerk— Stephen H. Carpenter.^ Chief of Police— Josh. W. Tolford, 
Treasurer— James Conklin. City Attorney— Arthur B. Braley. 

Police Justice — John R. Baltzell. City Surveyor — P. W. McCabe. 
City Assessor — Thomas C. Bourke.^ 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward— Robert Nichols, Samuel Engel,^ Anthony McGovern. 
Second Ward— Myron T. Bailey, Robert Wootton, Halle Steens- 

LAND. 

Third Ward — H. Christoffers, Peter B. Kissam, Ole Thompson. 
Fourth Ward— Hiram N. Moulton, L. D. Stone, A. S. Frank. 

1 Resigned Oct. 10,1868, and John Corscot elected. 2 Term expires Sept. 7, 1868. 
3 Resigned Sept. 4, 1868, and Fred. Daubner elected. 



1869. 

Mayor — Andrew Proudfit. Chief of Police — T. C. Botsford. 

Clerk— John Corscot. City Attorney— A. S. Sanborn. 

Treasurer— William Habich, Jr. " City Surveyor— P. W. McCabe. 
Police Justice — John R. Baltzell. Assessor — N. L. Andrews. 
Street Supt.— Andrew Bishop. Pound Master— A. Koenig. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward — Geo. Anderson, D. K. Tenney, Fred. Daubner. 
Second Ward— A. R. Jones,^ M. T. Bailey, R. Wootton. 
Third Ward— H. Winckler," J. M. Bowman, P. B. Kissam. 
Fourth Ward— S. Foran, Peter Young, L. D. Stone. 

1 Resigned Dec. 4, 1869, and Walter Deards elected Dec. 18, 1869. 2 Resigned Jan. 8, 
1870, and J. G. Ott elected Feb. 21, 1870. 



1870. 



Mayor— Andrew Proudfit. Street Supt- -Andrew Bishop. 

Clerk— John Corscot. Chief of Police— J. Shealey. 

Treasurer— Andrew Pickarts. City Attorney— A S. Sanborn. 
Police Justice — John R. Baltzell. City Surveyor — P. W. McCabe. 
Assessor — N. L. Andrews. 



MADISON CITY OFFICERS. 
ALDERMEN. 

First Ward— Fred. Daubner, F. O'Brien, Geo. Anderson. 
Second Ward— Walter Deards, A. Daubner, M. T. Bailey. 
Third Ward-J. M. Bowman, W. H. Earns, H. Winckler. 
Fourth Ward— James Ross, H. N. Moulton, S. Foren. 



889 



1871. 



Mayor— James B. Bowen. 
Clerk — John Corscot. 
Treasurer— John Lewis. 
Police Justice— J. R. Baltzell. 
Street Supt.— Andrew Bishop. 



Chief of Police— Chas. C. Hammer 
City Attorney— Jos. C. Ford. 
City Surveyor— P. W. McCabe. 
Assessor— N. L. Andrews. 
Pound Master— W. J. Manning. 



ALDERMEN. 

First Ward-JAS. Conklin, Henry Vilas, Ferd. Daubner 
Second Ward-A. Daubner, C. P. Chapman, Walter Deards 
Third Ward-J. G. Ott, W. H. Karns, J. M. Bowman. 
Fourth Ward-Tnos. Dean, Estes Wilson, James Ross 



1872. 



Mayor-J AMES L. Hill. Street Superintendent, Surveyor- 

Clerk-JoHN Corscot. Levi P. Drake ' 

Treasurer-CHAS. G. Mayers. City Attorney-Jos. C. Ford. 

Police Justice— A. B. Braley. Assessor— Wm. T. Leitch. 

Pound Master— W. J. Manning. 

aldermen. 
First Ward-E. Cook, Geo. Bunker, Jas. Conklin. 
Second Ward-R. Wootton, C. P. Chapman, A. Daubner 
Third Ward-F. M. Dorn, John Lewis, J. G. Ott. 
Fourth Ward-ADRiAN Webster, Estes Wilson, Thos. Dean. 
1 Resigned Dec. 7, aud Andrew Bishop appointed 



1873. 



Mayor-J. C. Gregory. 
Clerk— John Corscot. 
Treasurer— Jas. Farrell. 
Police Justice— A. B. Braley. 



Street Superintendent— A. Bishop. 
City Attorney— Chas. K. Tenney. 
Assessor— W. T. Leitch. 
Pound Master— Isaac Smith. 



390 APPENDIX. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward— Geo. Bunker, John Heeran, E. Cook. 
Second Ward— C. P. Chapman, A. Daubner, R. Wooton. 
Third Ward— H. Kleuter, Darwin Clark, F. M. Dorn. 
Fourth Ward— A. Sexton, T. Dean, Estes Wilson. 



1874. 



Mayor— Silas U. Pinney. Street Superintendent and Chief of 
Clerk — John Corscot. Police — A. Bishop. 

Treasurer— Gottfried Grimm. City Attorney— C. K. Tenney. 

Municipal Judge— A. B. Braley. Assessor— Wm. F. Leitch. 

City Surveyor— Jas. Quirk. Pound Master— E. Squires. 

ALDERMEN. 

First Ward— Geo. Bunker, Geo. Memhard, Thos. Hayden. 
Second Ward— C. P. Chapman, W. K. Barney, T. B. Worthington. 
Third Ward— H. Kleuter, D. Clark, F. M. Dorn. 
Fourth Ward— A. Sexton, P. L. Spooner, Jr., M. P. Walsh. 



DANE COUNTY, WIS. gg-[ 



DANE COUNTY, WIS. 



Korthwestern Territory i, ,ifn Tr •. Soverament of the 

the Mississippr e?n: omtern"^ "J '''""" ^^"^^ ^'<='''='"' -<' 

«mbia and Sauk counties on nT , ^" '" ™ "'" '^""'^ "^ Col- 
south by Rock and Grer'aud o^ thf '', 1"' and Jefferson, on the 
the Wisconsin river Tts\"ltisfo,.rT ""'. °°'^""-^' "^ I-- and 
thirty.fl™ miles from nor.,rt ''!r' " """'' '""^ '^'' *° ^^^' "'''I 

..ecund thirt,c:ii:::;;rr;::::;i~ •"---' '- -- 
— r 1:^7— -r ;T:tifed™~' '^ '^^^^ -'- ^^ 

1870, makes the number 53 109 beinlV ''''''"'' ^^^'^ ^^ 

rrr,. .,.. ^'■^^'^' "^^^^g a gain, since I860 of 187 

uy liie oiate ±Joard, was $24 393 808 Tn ift'^n +i 

...p,.»..o:ze"rr:-;;r:;s^ 



392 APPENDIX. 

whicli with the value of merchants' and manufacturers' stock, $728,277, 
and other personal property, $1,804,004, gave a total value of $5,092,979. 
There were also 760,575 acres of wild and improved land, which with 
city and village lots made a total real estate value of $15,475,032. 

From the 395,703 acres of improved lands in the county in 1870, there 
were produced respectively of wheat, 2,730,130 bus. ; rye, 18,398 bus. ; 
corn, 931,264 bus.; oats, 1,465,759 bus.; barley, 148,003 bus.; potatoes, 
345,852 bus. Also, 74,369 tons of hay; and lespectively of wool, 251,947 
pounds; butter, 1,229,226 pounds; cheese, 37,938 pounds; hops, 51,915 
pounds. The estimated value of all this farm production, including bet- 
terments and additions to stock is $5,483,047, and of the manufactures 
produced $1,121,563. In 1870, the public debt of the county was $175,000, 
and the yearly total tax levy $287,072. The cost of paupers for the year . 
was $6,000, and 20 criminals were convicted. There were 222 libraries in 
the county, containing 106,700 volumes. There were 75 church organi- 
zations, meeting in 61 edifices, with a seating capacity of 22,250, and a 
value of $165,200. The number of newspapers was eight, with a circula- 
tion of 19,170. In the year ending August 31, 1873, there were 20,530 
school children in the county, between the ages of 4 years and 20 years, 
and the total value of the school property was $229,540. 

The foregoing brief exhibit of the agricultural, manufacturing and 
social progress and condition of Dane county, gives substantial evidence 
on which to predicate the continuance of a prosperous career for it and 
its people ; and as it is the largest and best county in Wisconsin, all that 
its people need for their continued success and comfort, is to keep as 
they have done, in the van of enterprise and material and social devel- 
opment. 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 393 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 



ALBION. 
The town of Albion received its name at the suggestion of Isaac 
Brown, in honor of his former place of residence in Orleans county, 
New York. F. Sweet, the first white inhabitant, came from Oneida 
county, New York, and settled on section 23, in August, 1841. In Sep. 
tember, 1841, Burr and Omen Andersen, from Norway, settled on sec- 
tion 2, and within a few weeks, Samuel F. Stewart, from Massachu- 
setts, settled on section 14. These four families were the only residents 
until September, 1842, when Jesse Saunders and D. J. Green settled 
on section 22, on what has since been called Saunder's Creek, where the 
village of Albion now stands. 

These two families were the first " Seventh day " people in the town. 
They were followed by others in the early part of the next year, among 
whom were Solomon Head, Adin Burdick, James Weed and Hiram 
Bentley. On the 22d of June, 1843, they organized a Seventh day Bap- 
tist Church, which now has over three hundred members. The first pas- 
tor was Rev. O. P. Hull. 

Among the early settlers in the more northern part of the town were 
the Marsdens, Glares, Wildmans, Halls, Slaters, Busseys, and oth- 
ers, from England, who soon organized a Primitive Methodist Church, 
with Rev. Marsden as first minister. 

Jesse Saunders opened the first store. D. J. Green, the first hotel. 
The first school was built by the Seventh day people, voluntary contribu- 
tions, in 1843 or 1844. Their church was built in 1861. A Methodist 
Episcopal Church was built about 1868. A new Primitive Methodist 
Church is now being built. Albion Academy and Normal Institute was 
founded in 1854. Its chief work is the qualification of teachers for com- 
mon schools. Annual attendance of students from 250 to 300. There 
are three large brick buildings with grounds containing twelve acres of 
land. The corporate property is valued at $50,000. The courses of 
instruction embraces Classics, Mathematics, Metaphysics, Natural Sci- 
ences, Normal Course, Vocal and Instrumental Music, Elocution, Book- 
keeping and Spelling. Hon. C. R. Head, president ot board of trustees. 

* The author of this volnme is indebted to Harrison & Warner, publishers of the 
•'Dane County Atlas," for much valuable information contained in these notes. 



394 APPENDIX. 

Rev. A. R. Cornwall, principal. No licenses have ever been issued in 
this town. 

The village of Albion lies in the central part of the town, and is a 
small settlement. 

The township lies in the southeast corner of Dane county. It is well 
watered, and the lands generally are of an excellent quality. Rice lake 
is about six miles long, north and south, and takes a part of sections 12^ 
and 13 ; and the western part of Lake Koshkonong covers a part of sec- 
tions 25 and 36. 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad enters the township from the 
east on section 32 and passes out at the southwest part of section 30. 

The township of Albion is known also in the government survey as 
township 5 north, range 12 east. 

Population in 1870, 1,142. 

BERRY. 

The Township of Bekry is situated in the northwestern portion of the 
county, and was formerly a part of Springfield. It is known as township 
8, north of range 7, east. 

In 1852, a town meeting was held at the school house in District No. 1^ 
Jas. Bowman was elected Chairman; O. Kerl and E. Ellis, Supervi- 
sors ; Jno. Gray, Town Clerk ; John Medd, Treasurer ; A. Puddleford, 
As&essor ; John Wightman, Thos. Barber, John Savill and George 
Stevens, Justices of the Peace. Among the early settlers were, Mr. 
WiGHTMAN, Mr. Crowther, a. Skinner, J. Bonham and F. Anhalt. 

The surface of the country is generally hilly, except in the western 
part, between Halfway Prairie Creek and Spring Creek. The soil on the 
bottom lands is dark loam, and on the high lands clay. The timber is 
principally white oak. Indian Lake lies in sections 2 and 11. A large 
part of the inhabitants are Germans, or of German descent. 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad passes through sections 81 and 
32, in the southwest corner. 

Population in 1870, 1,156. 

BLOOMING GROVE. 

The Town of Blooming Grove lies in the central part of the county, 
adjoining Madison on the east, of which it was part, until set off by the 
County Board in 1850. It is known as township 7, north of range 10, 
east. A large part of section 8, the north half of section 17, and a part 
of section 20, are covered by Lake Monona ; also a large part of sections 
28 and 33 by Lake Waubesa. 

The town was first settled in 1845, by R. W. Lansing. J. G. Wolf, J. 
Bechtel and Rev. G. B. Miller arrived soon after. The town was organ- 
ized in 1850. N. W. Tompkins was elected Supervisor; R. W. Lansing, 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. S95 

Superintendent of Schools and Justice of tlie Peace. The first marriao-e 
was that of Albert Barker to Alida J. Lansing, in 1850, performed 
by Rev. J. G Kanouse. There are (1874) 11 school districts in the town.' 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad enters the town on the south 
line, from the east, on section 34, and passes through sections 33, 29 and 
30, where it proceeds west, through Madison. The Watertown division 
of the same road passes through sections 6 and 5, east. 

Population in 1870, 1,010. 

BLACK EARTH. 

The Township of Black Earth lies in the northweistern part of the 
county, and formerly included within its limits the Township of Mazo- 
MANiE. It is known as township 8, north of range 6 east, and is com^ 
posed of eighteen sections of land— one-half the usual number. It 
derives its name from the creek that passes through it. 

At a town meeting held April 5, 1854, Levi E. Thompson was elected 
Chairman; H M. Warner and E. L. Pound, Supervisors; A. H. Hol- 
BROOK, Town Clerk; Jas. Hayes, Assessor; Thos. Davis, Treasurer. 

The surface of the country is generally broken, but there are some 
excellent bottom lands on the streams. The Milwaukee and St. Paul 
Railroad follows the valley of the creek, entering the town on the east 
line, on section 36, and passing out at the northwest corner of section 23 
on the north line of the town. There are a large number of Norwegians 
settled in this town. 

The village of Black Earth is one of considerable business, and is. 
situated on section 26. It contains a grist mill. Congregational and 
Methodist churches, hotel, town hall, a newspaper office and a number 
of stores and shops. It was incorporated in 1857, which act was after- 
wards repealed. Population in 1870, 966. 

BLUE MOUNDS. 

The Township of Blue Mounds is situated in the southwestern part of 
the county, known as township 6, north of range 6 east. 

This is one of the oldest settled towns in Dane county— the first settler 
being Col. Ebenezer Brigham, an account of whom will be found in 
the former part of this volume. He first settled here in 1828, before the 
territorial organization. The town was organized in xlpril, 1848. There 
are five school houses and four churches— two Lutheran, one Presbyte- 
rian and one Methodist. The town is well watered by small streams, and 
abounds in beautiful sceneiy. The East Blue Mounds is in the northwest 
part and occupies section 5 and portions of 4 and 6. It is the highest 
point in the southwestern part of the State and rises to an altitude of 
1,931 feet above the sea and 1,072.5 above the lakes at Madison. From 
the summit, a grand panorama is spread out; objects many miles distant 



396 APPENDIX. 

are distinctly visible, as are the lead regions of Illinois, Iowa and 
Wisconsin. Mineral shafts abound all about the Mounds filled with 
ores of lead, zinc, copper, pyrites, spars, and the ordinary varieties of 
matrix th&t inclose this class of mineral treasures. 

The eastern part of the town is settled largely by Scandinavians. Pop- 
ulation in 1870, 1,165. 

The postofRces are West Blue Mounds, in Iowa county, near the west 
line of Dane county; East Blue Mounds, corner of sections 10, 11, 14 
and 15 ; Mt. Horeb, on section 12. 

BRISTOL. 

The township of Bristol is located in the northeastern part of the 
county, and was formerly a part of Sun Prairie, known by ^government 
survey as town 9, north of range 11, east. It is well watered by Waterloo 
creek and its branches in the eastern part. The surface is undulating, 
soil rich and fertile and considerable marsh or hay land. 

It was organized as a separate town in 1848, the first town meeting 
being held at the house of George C. Smith. W. W. Patrick was 
elected first Supervisor. 

Brazee's Lake lies in southwest corner of section 34, and is about 
three-fourths of a mile long, north and south. 

Population in 1870, 1,275. 

BURKE. 

The township of Burke lies in the northeastern quarter of the county, 
adjoining the city of Madison in a northeast direction, and known as 
town 8, north, range 10 east. It is watered in the northern part by Token 
Creek. This is an excellent township of land, the surface about equally 
divided between prairie and timber. The soil is rich and productive. 
The town has the advantage of two lines of railroads passing through it, 
the Madison & Portage Railroad, which enters on the southwest corner 
from the south and runs northerly from Madison through the western 
part, passing into Columbia county; and the Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad which enters on the south line in section 33, and runs north- 
easterly into the town of Sun Prairie. 

The town was first settled about 1841-2. Among the early residents 
were Horace Lawrence, Adam. Smith, and George H. Spalding. 
E. G-ROVER located in 1844. It was formerly a part of Windsor. 

It was organized as a separate town in 1852. Hon. Adam Smith was 
elected first supervisor. 

The village of Token Creek, in section 3, lies on the stream of that 
name on the north line of the town, on the site of an old Indian encamp, 
ment. 

Population in 1870, 1,127. 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 397 



CHRISTIANA. 



The township of CiimsTrANA lies in the southeast part of the county, 
adjoining the county of Jefierson, known also as town 6 north, of range 
12 east. It is well watered in the north by Mud creek, and the central 
and eastern part, by Koshkonong creek and tributaries. Koshkonong 
prairie lies between Mud creek and the first named stream. 

The town was first organized May 6, 1847. Among the early settlers 
were A. O. Amundson, M. Mayhew, J. Peterson and S. H. Coon. 
The first school house was built on section 9. The first church was of 
the Lutheran denomination and was located on section 27. The first 
preacher was a Mr. Dietrichson. Some portions of the town are some- 
what broken, the whole about equally divided between prairie and timber • 
There are two villages in the town: Cambridge, on section 12, and Clin- 
ton, on section 24, both on the Koshkonong creek, the latter has a grist 
mill. Utica post ofiice is on section 19. 

The town is settled largely by Norwegians. Population, 1870, 1,342. 

COTTAGE GROVE. 

The township of Cottage Grove lies east of the town of Blooming 
Grove, about nine miles east of Madison, and known as town 7 north, of 
range 11 east. 

It is watered in the northeastern part by Koshkonong creek, in the 
southern and western part by Little and Big Door creeks. 

The village of Cottage Grove is a small settlement located in section 
7. Door Creek post office is on section 33. 

The town was first settled in 1837 by Amos Harris, who located on 
section 9. Amos Beecher, William Wells and H. Cattine, on section 
7. The town received its name from a burr-oak grove in the midst of 
which a public house was built, and where the post office was kept. The 
town was organized April 6, 1847. Henry L. Bush was elected Chair- 
man, and F. A. Mitchell Town Clerk. There seems to have been no 
Treasurer elected ; at least, the records do not show it. A Presbyterian 
Church was early organized under the care of Rev. George Kanouse. 
Subsequently, a Methodist Church was organized, and both congregations 
now have commodious meeting-houses. The first school house was built 
on section 7. There are now nine school districts, in which schools are 
kept from six to nine months each year. The surface of the country is 
rolling, some parts being rugged and hilly. The town contains about 
7,000 acres of marsh land, which yields excellent hay and pasturage. 
There are Indian relics and mounds on the lauds of Albert Gaston on 
section 4. 

Population, 1870, 955. 



398 APPENDIX. 

CROSS PLAINS. 

The township of Cross Plains is located in the western part of Dane 
county, and is known in the government survey as township 7 north, 
range 7 east. 

It is watered in the northeast quarter by Black Earth creek, and Sugar 
river on the southern sections. About two-thirds of the town is prairie 
land. The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad enters the town on the 
east side, on section 13, and passes out northwesterly in section 5. 

The town was first permanently settled in 1840, by Edward Hughes 
and John Campbell. They were soon followed by John W. Thomas, 
Berry Haney, Thos. Arland and S. Bell. A Mr. Steel was living in 
the town in 1837, engaged in hunting and trapping, but did not remain. 

The town was organized in 1847, with Ripha Warden, Supervisor: 
Wm. HowERY, Assessor; Berry Haney, Clerk. School districts were 
organized the same year, and schools soon after. 

In the south part of the town is an elevation known as Pine 'Bluffs. 
This is a body of rock, on the top of which grows a clump of pine trees. 
There are also some high bluffs in the northern part of the town. 

The villages of Foxville and Christina, are on sections three and four 
on the railroad. Cross Plains post office is on section 2. Pine Bluff 
post ofiice at the junction of sections 21, 22, 27 and 28. Population, 
1870, 1,506. 

DANE. 

The township of Dane is situated on the northern line of the town, 
east of Roxbury, known as township 9 north, of range 8 east. The north- 
western part is watered by Spring Creek. Some portions are rough and 
bluffy. 

The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad passes through the town 
north andsouth in an irregular line. The village of Dane is a way station 
on section 13. Brereton is a post office on section 30. 

The town was first settled by Freedom Simons, who arrived in 1843. 
The next year, J. Lewis, L. Blatchley, G-. W. Bell, William Dunlap, 
and others, from Ohio, located in the west part of the town, and this sec- 
tion w^as called the Ohio settlement. About the same time, Clark Bab- 
cock, J. Babcock, Pettibone, D. Hawley and John Otto came in. 

.John Miller, from Vermont, arrived in 1844. 

Dane and Roxbury formerly composed one township. The records of 
Dane date back to 1848. It took its name from the county. The soil is 
good, about two-thirds prairie, the balance oak openings. The people 
were engaged exclusively in farming, up to the advent of the Northwest- 
ern Railroad, in 1871 ; since which time the village of Dane has sprung 
up, and is a point of considerable business. 



DAI^E COUNTY TOWNS. 399 

The old Indian trail from Four Lakes to Sauk Prairie ran, in a nearly 
•direct line, through the town from thg southeast to the northwest corner. 
Population, in 1870, 1,043. 

DEERFIELD. 

The Township of Deerfield lies on the eastern border of Dane 
county, in township 7 north, of range 12 east. 

The town is very well watered by Koshkonong creek, which enters the 
town on the west line, runs easterly and empties into what is known as 
Krogh's Mill Pond, a large body of water which covers a portion of six 
sections of land. Mud creek enters the town on the south line, and run- 
ning north empties into this pond— lar^je enough in area to be called a 
lake. Goose Lake lies in the northeast corner on sections 1, 2, 11 and 12. 
Norah P. O. is on section 29. 

The first settlers in the town arrived 1841-42 ; among them were David 
K Hyer, B. Ingraham, Colben Oleson, and Stork Oleson. Mr. Hter 
located on section 9 ; he was the first postmaster of Deerfield postoffice, 
-established in 1843, and held the office for eleven years. During this 
time he kept hotel, and bought and kept oh hand supplies for the stages 
running from Madison to Milwaukee and Janesville to Columbus. 

The first annual town meeting was held at Mr Hyer's house April 3, 
1849. At this meeting, Allen E. Adsit was elected Chairman of Board 
of Supervisors ; Emery Sampson and George R. Fryer, Supervisors ; 
H. L. Foster, Town Clerk ; Benjamin Potter, Treasurer, and Martin 
IV. Adsit, Assessor. 

Population, 1870, 1,040. 

DUNKIRK. 

The Township of Dunkirk lies in the southeast part of the county on 
the south line, also known as township 5 north, of range 11 east. 

It was one of the original towns at the organization of the county in 1846. 

The Yahara or Cat Fish runs through the town, entering on the north 
line on section 4, and passes out on the south line on section 35. On this 
stream are good water powers. The village of Stoughton is located on 
sections 5 an 8 on this stream, and is also a station on the Milwaukee and 
St. Paul Railroad, and is a place of much business. It contains a hotel, 
three stores, flouring mill, plough factory. Baptist and Episcopal churches, 
a large wagon factory, a number of mechanical shops and many hand- 
some residences. Dunkirk village is a small settlement on section 21. 
The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad passes through the central part of 
the town, entering on the east line on section 25, and running northwest- 
erly, passes out on the north line, on section 5. 

The first town meeting was held in 1846, at the house of Mr. Lyons. 
Abner Barlow was elected first supervisor. 



400 APPENDIX. 

The surface of the county is gently undulating ; the soil is good, and 
produces the usual varieties of graki, and some tobacco. 

Population in 1870, 1,194, 

DUNN. 

The Township of Dunn is situated in the southeast quarter of the 
county, and is township 6 north, range 10 east. Lake Waubesa, or Sec- 
ond Lake, covers portions of sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, on the northwest part; 
Lake Kegonsa, or First Lake, on the eastern side, also takes a portion 
of sections 13, 23, all of 24, 25 and 26 ; Hook Lake, in the southwest 
part, on sections 28, 29 and 32; Mud Lake on section 10. 

The soil is clay in the openings, and black loam on the prairies. 

A large number of the settlers are Norwegians. The town of Dunn 
was so named by mistake. The inhabitants petitioned to have it called 
Door, but the Town Clerk mistook the word and called it Dunn. The 
early settlers were A. "Weatherby, A. Whitcomb, E. Root, William 
Root, H. Peichard, William Calladay and O. B. Moore. The town 
was organized in 1848. There are eight schools and one church. Indian 
relics abound on almost every hill. Mounds, in the shape ot animals, 
birds and fishes are numerous. 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad passes through the northeast 
corner. On section 3 is the village of MacFarland, a station on the rail- 
road. 

Population in 1870, 1,172. 

FITCHBURG. 

The Township of Fitchburg, formerly known as Greenfield, is situated 
in the south central part of the county, known as town 6 north, of range 
9 east. 

The north tier of sections is watered by a small stream which has its 
rise in nine springs in section 3, and Penora creek, on the eastern side, 
on which is located the village of Lake View. 

Stoner's Prairie is the name of a post office on a prairie of that name 
on section 30. At that place, John Stoner, of Madison, made improve- 
ments as early as 1838. Oak Hall Post Office is a small settlement on 
section 33. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad passes through the 
town,' entering on the south line on section 35, passing northerly out at 
section 2, into the town of Madison. Syene is a station and post office 
on the railroad, on section 11. 

The first settlers were, Wm. Quivey, Jos. Vroman, P. Pritchard, R. 
W. Salisbury, W. True, Geo. W. Fox, Wm. H. Fox, Geo. Keenan and 
John Keenan. Wm. Quivey's log cabin was hotel, Post Office and 
town house for a long time. The Fox settlement was a well known 
locality before towns were established in the county. 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 401 

At the town meeting held April 4, 1854, S. W. Field was elected 
Chairman; Isaac Eaton and 31. Gkady, Supervisors; R. C. Bennet, 
Town Clerk ; P. S. Kott, Treasurer ; C. Postle, Assessor. 

Population in 1870, 1,152. 

MADISOK. 

The township of Madison includes all that portion of township T 
north, of range 9 east, except the cit}^ of Madison, and is situated near the 
center of the county. Almost the whole of the northern part is covered 
by the waters of Lake Mendota, and a portion of the eastern part by Lake 
Monona. Lake Wingra occupies the larger part of section 27 and parts- 
of sections 26 and 28. The town is traversed by the Milwaukee and St. 
Paul Railroad, which enters it from the south at section 36, passes north- 
westerly and westerly through the city and town to section 18, where it 
passes into Iowa county. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad enters 
on the south line on section 35, runs northerly across Lake Monona, and 
northeasterly through the city into Columbia county. 

The history of the town is identical with that of the present city, and 
has been given heretofore and is unnecessary to be repeated. 

On section 6, on the north side of Lake Mendota, Black Hawk and hi* 
party were encamped during the Black Hawk war. 

Quarry town is a small settlement on sections 20 and 21. 

Population in 1870, 857. 

MAZOMANIE. 

The township of Mazomanie is situated in the northwest corner of 
Dane county, and is composed of sections one to eighteen, inclusive of 
township 8 north, of range 6 east, and fractional part of township No. 9^ 
lying south and east of the Wisconsin river. The northern half of this 
township is marsh or meadow land, very rich and productive. The 
southern half is watered by Black "Earth creek and its tributaries. 

The village of Mazomanie is a thriving place of business ; located on 
sections 9 and 16, and is a station of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, 
which road passes through sections 16, 17 and 18, in the southwest part 
of the town. It contains two grist mills, an Episcopal, Baptist, Roman 
Catholic, Primitive Methodist and Congregational Churches; a good 
school house, 4 public houses, 2 nurseries, a brewery, and a number of 
stores and shops. 

The town was organized in 1855. The first settlers came from Liver- 
pool, England, in the fall of 1843. A Mr. Charles Wilson, Agent for 
the British Temperance Emigration Society, purchased a quantity of land, 
a portion of which was occupied by the members of the society. The- 
names of the settlers were J. Rhodes, J. Ray, J. Homes, G. Robbins^ 



402 APPENDIX. 

, J. Kerr, and others ; also, Mr. A. Senier, not a member of tlie society, 
located on section 18. 

The first school house was built in 1847, on section 15, and known as 
** Howarth's," or the " old log school house." The first church was 
erected on section 16. It was called the First Congregational Church, 
and its pastor was the Rev. D. Jones, of Dover, Iowa County, Wisconsin. 
The first school teacher was Mary Hayes, who resided on section 15. 
The first marriage that occurred in the town was that of Mr. Leach and 
Miss Reeve. 

Mr. Wm. Thompson, after coming to Wisconsin, returned to England 
for his family. On their way back to Wisconsin, his wife gave birth to a 
son, and they named it in honor of the vessel in which they were travel- 
ing, Patrick Henry Thompson. 

Population in 1870; town, 569; village, 1,144. 

MEDINA. 

The Township of Medina is situated in the northeastern part of Dane 
.county; the easlern side divides it from the county of Jefl:erson. It is 
known as township 8 north, range 12 east. 

The northern portion is watered by Waterloo creek. Spring creek is a 
tributary in the central part. 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad passes across the town, entering 
on the east side on section 12, passing out on section 6. Deanville is a 
village and station on section 8. The village of Marshall is located on 
Waterloo creek, on sections 10 and 15. 

The town was first settled about 1846. It derived its name from Me- 
dina, Ohio, the former residence of most of the settlers, among whom 
were Chas. Lum, S. Muzzy, Martin King and Asa Crass. The first 
town meeting was held April 4, 1848, when Chas. Lum was elected Chair- 
man, and Urbane Parsons Town Clerk. In 1847 there was no school 
house, meeting house, or any other public building, except an inferior 
tavern. In the fall of 1848 a brick school house was built, which 
answered the purpose of school house, town house and meeting house, 
for nineteen years. In 1806 an academy was built, costing six thousand 
dollars. In 1869 the Baptist and Methodist societies each built a meet- 
ing house. In 1871 a town hall was erected, so the town is now pretty 
well provided with public buildings. 

On the site of the present village of Marshall, Zenas H. Bird, a 
brother of Col. Bird, put up the frame for a large building, with the 
view of establishing a tavern at that locality; but other routes of travel 
began to be opened, and Mr. Bird, regarding the prospect as unpromis* 
ing, abandoned the premises. Left to the action of storms and weather, 
'the building, in the course of two or three years, fell to the ground, and 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 403 

hence the place was named " Bird's Ruins." Bird sold to Doulass, 
Douglass to Hanchett, when the place was called Hanchettville. Han- 
-CHETT laid out a large territory, and named it Howard City. The prop- 
erty was sold on a mortgage, and bought by Samuel Marshall, from 
whom it derives it present name. 

The village contains an excellent grist mill, hotel, Baptist church, a 
few stores and mechanical shops. Population, 1870, 1,525. 

MIDDLETON. 

The Township of Middleton lies near the central part of the county, 
-adjoining Madison on the west, and known as township 7 north, of range 
8 east. This is one of the early settled towns in Dane county. It is 
watered on the northeast by Pheasant Branch, and on section 1 is the 
small village of that name. On section 9 is a large expansion of water 
known as Mud lake, from which a small stream runs westward into 
Black Earth creek. 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad crosses the town, entering from 
the east on section 13, passing out at section 7. Middleton Station, a 
place of considerable business, is located on section 11. It contains a 
.steam planing mill, an elevator, four public houses, distillery, a few stores 
and shops. East Middleton postoffice is on section 27, Middleton post- 
office on section 30. 

The town was originally a part of the town of Madison. It was organ- 
ized as a separate town in 1848. The first Supervisor was Thos. F. 
Whittlesey. 

The early settlers were Wallace Rowan, Michel St. Cyr and Col. 
Wm. B. Slaughter, a more particular account of whom will be found 
in the former part of this volume. Rowan early located as an Indian 
trader, at the head of Fourth lake, and was there at the outbreak of the 
Black Hawk War, in 1832. 

He was succeeded as a trader by Michel St. Cyr. Whisky and tobacco 
constituted his stock in trade. But this trade was not sufficient for a 
livelihood, and he cultivated about eight acres of ground, raising corn, 
oats, potatoes, and a few vegetables. His cabin was a small affair, but 
he entertained the few traders that passed through the country. This 
was on the site of the City of the Four Lakes. Col. Wm. B. Slaughter 
entered the land in 1835, and conveyed an undivided one-half to Judge 
Doty, December 20th, in that year, with a view of having a town laid 
out there, and eventually securing the Territorial Capital at that point. 
It was surveyed and plotted in 183G. But Col. Slaughter being absent 
at the time of the session of the legislature at Belmont, Madison was the 
successful competitor for the interesting prize at stake, and the City of 



404 APPENDIX, 

the Four Lakes met an untimely end. The village of Pheasant Branch 
is located near the spot. 

The soil is excellent, and farm products generally are raised in large 
quantities. There is a large pond or lake situated on section 9. Popu- 
lation, 1870, town 1,539, station 286. 

MONTROSE. 

The township of Montrose lies in the southwestern part of the 
county, on the southern border, known as township 5 north, range 8 east. 
The town is well watered by Sugar river and its tributaries. The soil is 
rich and productive. The village of Paoli lies on sections 3 and 10, on 
Sugar river. Belleville is a small settlement on section 34. 

The town of Montrose was first settled in 1841, by Joseph Kendricks 
and George McFadden and families, Elam Elder, then single, and 
Benjamin Crocker and family. 

The town was organized in 1847. Daniel M. Holt was elected first 
supervisor. The election was held at Mr. McFadden's house. The first 
white child born in the town was in the family of Mr. Hendricks. The 
town received its name at the suggestion of Mr. McFadden, after a town 
in Pennsylvania. 

Population in 1870, 1,157. 

OREGOIT. 

The township of Oregon lies on the southern boundary of the county^ 
in the central part, known on the surveys as township 5 north, range 9' 
east. It is one of the early settled towns. It is watered in the southwest 
part by tributaries of Sugar river. 

The Cliicago and Northwestern railroad passed through the town,, 
entering on the south line, on section 36, passes out on the north line on 
section 2. 

The village of Oregon is a station of the road on section 12, and is a 
place of considerable business. It has a Presbyterian and a Methodist 
church, three stores, lumber yard, broom factory, hotel, and a number of 
mechanical shops. 

The town was organized in 1847. It was first settled in 1842-3. 
Among the earliest settlers were C. P. Moseley, from Connecticut; A. 
Kierstead, from New Jersey; R. Rooney, from Virginia; Robert 
Thompson, from Scotland; Joseph G. Fox, from Ireland; R. Boice and 
Wm. Root. 

The first town meeting was held in the house of L. S. Pratt. A Con- 
gregational church was organized in April, 1845, by Rev. S. Miner and 
Rev. S. Peet, with twelve members. In November, 1846, it became 
Presbyterian under the ministry of Rev. M. A. Fox, its present pastor. 

The land is undulating, consisting of prairie and oak openings. The 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 405 

soil, sandy loam and clay. Brick clay, from which excellent cream 
brick is made, is found near Oregon village. 
Population in 1870, 1,498. 

PERRY. 

The township of Pekry is situated in the southwest corner of Dane 
county, known as township 5 north, of range 6 east. 

The town is well watered by small streams, the head waters of the East 
Peckatonica river. Perry post office is on sections 8 and 17. Forward 
post office on section 23. 

The town was named in honor of Commodore Perry, of Lake Erie 
fame. It was first settled in the spring of 1846, by John Brown, a native 
of Indiana, who settled on section 27. John Hobart and Anton Kel- 
LAR, from Germany, came later in the year, and located on sections 3 
and 10. The next year, Shute Rudy and John Sears, from Kentucky ; 
John Eastman, from Ohio, and 8. H. Campbell settled mostly along 
the southern border. In February, 1848, B. F. Denson, a native of North 
Carolina, moved in and settled on section 34. During this summer, sev- 
eral Norwegians moved in, prominent among whom were Hans Johnson, 
on section 20 ; Lars Halverson, on section 17 ; T. Thompson, on section 
17, and Ole O. Bakken, on section 4. The last named bought out a Nor- 
wegian who had come the year before. The above-mentioned individ- 
uals may rightfully be considered the pioneers of the town, but of these 
only Bakken and Johnson still remain. 

N. W. Denson was the first white child — born March 19, 1848. A 
daughter of John Eastman was born April 14th of the same year. 

The first church was built on section 8, in 1851, belonging to the Nor- 
wegians, of the Lutheran denomination. It was twenty feet square, built 
of logs, and is still doing service as a church, having been repaired and 
modified. It served as a school house till the fall of 1852, when the first 
school house was built. This was located a quarter of a mile east of 
where Daley's store now stands. O. B. Daley opened the first retail 
store in 1853. 

As a separate organization, Perry dates back to April 4, 1851 — it being 
a part of Primrose up to that time. After the year 1848, the settlers were 
mostly German and Norwegians, apparently crowding out the Ameri- 
cans ; among the last to leave were Mr. Denson and Mr. Campbell. 

Population in 1870, 1,051. 

PRIMROSE. 

The township of Primrose lies on the southern border of the county, 
in the southwest quarter, adjoining Perry on the east, of which it was 
formerly a part, known also as township No. 5, north of range 7 east. 

The Sugar river and its numerous tributaries, water the northern half 



406 APPENDIX. 

of the county. Primrose post office is on section 21. The village of 
Mount Yernon lies part in section 3, and part in the town of Spring- 
dale, a small settlement. 

The town was first settled in 1845. R. Spears located on section 19; 
A. Spears, on section 8 ; Christian Hendrixon came the next year and 
settled on section 25. The town was organized in 1845. The first offi- 
cers were : David Thomas, Chairman ; Samuel Nassinger and Free- 
man Fisher, Supervisors; and Robert Harrington, Clerk. The first 
school house, called "Primrose school house," was erected in 1847, on 
section 17. G. Jackson was the first teacher. Rev. A. Price, of the 
Lutheran Church, was the first pastor. A mill was built on section 7 in 
1858, being the first in the town. Primrose had the honor of sending a 
member to the Legislature in 1868 — Hon. Gunnif Tollefson. 

On section 24 is a hill 200 feet high, 100 rods long and 15 rods wide at 
the top, called Mt. Julia. Among the natural curiosities is the " Devil's 
Chimney," on section 11. This is a solid body of rock 50 feet high, 25 
feet diameter at the base, and 50 feet at the top. In 1850, a man by the 
name of Joel Britz climbed to the top, and placed a flag there. He is 
the first and only man that ever accomplished the feat of ascending the 
so-called chimney. The flag staff still stands there. Names of visitors 
from all parts of the United States are engraved on the rock. 

Population, 1870, 1,015. 

PLEASANT SPRINGS. 

The town of Pleasant Springs is located in the southeast quarter of 
the county, known also as township 6 north of range 11 east. 

Lake Kegonsa, or First Lake, covers a portion of sections 18, 19, 20 
and 30. 

The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad enters the town on the south line 
on section 32, runs northerly, passes out on the west line of section 7, 
The town is watered in the northwest by Big Door Creek and Catfish 
Creek in the southwestern part. The town is settled largely by Nor- 
wegians. 

The town of Pleasant Springs received its name from a large spring on 
the lands of Ole EvENSON, on section 27. Among the early settlers K 
H. Roe, H. Severson, Robert McComb, P. S. Markham, John Son- 
DERMAN, K. KiTTELSON, K. A. JuvE, and K. A. Joitel. The first town 
meeting was held April 4,1848. The first church was built where the 
Lutheran church now stands, on section 14. The first sermon was 
preached by Pastor W. Dietrichson, under a large oak tree, on A. K. 
Juve's farm, September 2, 1844. The first school was taught in a private 
house. The first school house was built in section 25. 

No minerals are known to exist in the town. The soil is good and 



BANE COUNTY TOWNS. 407 

water excellent. Wheat corn, oats, and other cereals are produced in 

large quantities. There were a few Indian mounds on J. J. Williams' 

land, section 19, but they are now nearly all obliterated. Population 

1870, 1,0'?5. 

ROXBURY. 

The township of Roxbury lies in the northwestern corner of the county 
and includes all of township 9 north, of range 7 east, lying east and 
south of the Wisconsin river. Fish Lake covers a portion of sections 3 
and 4. Crystal Lake, part of sections 1 and 3, Crane Lake is on sectiona^ 
14 and 15. 

Clifton village is a small settlement on section 6, at which place there 
is a bridge across the Wisconsin river. River P. O. is on section 7^ 
where there is also a bridge. Alden's Corners is post office at junction 
of sections 26, 27, 34 and 35. The northwestern corner of the town is very 
rough and hilly, with some high bluffs. The Wisconsin river extends 
f)ver two miles on the western side. There are many Germans settled in 
the town. 

The town was originally a part of Dane. It was organized April 3^ 
1849. BuRK Faiiichilds was elected Chairman; Lorenzo Farr and 
Lorenzo D. Miller, [Supervisors ; Jas. Crowder, Town Clerk ; Loren- 
zo Farr, Assessor; James Steel, Treasurer; Z. Bowers; J. Crowder^ 
George Richards and B. Fairchilds, Justices of the Peace, 

RUTLAND. 

The Township of Rutland is situated on the south line of the county, 
in the southeastern part, known as township 5 north, of range No. 10 
east. 

The town is watered by the Badfish creek and numerous tributaries. 
Bass lake lies in section 24. Island Lake on section 3, which covers tw^ 
thirds of the section. There is an island near the middle of the lake cov- 
ered with rock-maple trees. No other trees of the kind are found in 
this section. The village of Rutland is in section 19. 

The town was fi rst settled in 1842, by Joseph Prentiss and son, 
Joseph De Jean, Daniel Pond and S. D. Little. They located on the 
southwest corner of the town, on the old Madison and Janesville road,, 
which was a stage route at that time. No other settlements were made 
until June, 1844, when Jonathan Lawrence and S. W. Grates came 
in and settled on section 28, then back in the wilderness. Late in the 
fall of the same j^ear Jeremiah Douglass commenced a settlement on 
section 11. In 1845, quite a number of people from Vermont located in 
the south part of the town, which was called the Vermont settlement; and 
a majority of those people remain in the town at the present day. The 
same j^ear the Douglasses, Dannons, Casleys and others, from Maine, 



408 ' APPENDIX. . 

settled in the north part of the town. This was called the Maine settle- 
ment. About four hundred people came into the town that year, and 
afterwards the town was rapidl}^ settled. The lands were all taken in a 
few years by actual settlers, and none by speculators. 

The first town meeting was held in April, 1846. Jonathan Lawrence 
was elected Chairman, and S. W. Gkaves, Town Clerk. The town was 
named after the town of Rutland, in Vermont. At present there are eight 
school districts, with good school houses. There are three churches, be- 
longing to the Methodists, United Brethren and Free Will Baptists, re- 
spectively. The village of Brooklyn, in Green county, touches the south- 
west corner. 

There is but verj'- little prairie in the town ; it was originally burr-oak 
openings. There are but few natural curiosities. In opening limestone 
quarries, numbers of fossils have been found — some quite large and per- 
fect. 

Population in 1870, 1,139. 

SPRIISTGDALE. 

The Township of Springdale is located in the southwestern part of 
the county, known as township 6 north, of range 7 east. 

It is watered by the west branch of Sugar river and numerous tributa- 
ries. 

Mount Vernon is a small village on section 32; Springdale P. O. on 
section 25; Clontorf P. O. on section 11. 

The town contains some remarkable remains of that ancient people 
who are supposed to have inhabited this country prior to its occupation 
by the Indian races — the most noteworthy of which are to be found on 
section 15. Here are three mounds, about fifty feet apart, and extending 
east and west. They are uniform in size, being about six feet in height 
above the surface of the adjacent land, and circular at the base, where 
they are nearly forty feet in diameter. 

Commencing at the distance of fifty feet from the most eastern mound, 
and extending in an unvarying direction to the east, there is a long, low 
ridge, or bank of earth, one hundred feet in length. The height of this 
ridge, above the surface of the ground on which it is situated, is four 
feet, and measures six feet through the base, north and south, a line drawn 
due east and west would divide the three mounds and ridge exactly in the 
centre. Being upon elevated land, the view from the site of these mounds 
would, were it not for the luxuriant young trees by which they are sur- 
rounded, be both beautiful and commanding. 

In the summer of 1870 one of these mounds was partially explored by 
Mr. Chas. H. Lewis, a resident of the town, when a well-preserved hu- 
man skeleton was unearthed, together with a stone pipe of curious work- 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 409 

manship, two stone knives, some liiglily polished and perforated pieces 
of bone, and many stone implements, the use of M'hich is now unknown. 

These mounds and their contents are objects of great interest to the an- 
tiquarian, as they point to the stone age of Wisconsin, and tend to the 
elucidation of the great problem in regard to that extinct and mysterious 
people, the mound builders of America. 

Population in 1870, 1,138, 

SPRINGFIELD. 

The township of Springfield is situated in the northwestern quarter 
of the county, adjoining Middleton on the north; known as township 8 
north, range 8 east. 

It is an excellent township of land, but not as well watered by streams, 
as many others, except in the northeastern part. 

Springfield village, a small settlement, is on section 5; Hyer's C(>rner 
Post Office is on section 4 : Ashton Post Office on section 26. 

The town was first settled in 1842, by Hawley Simons, who located on 
section 10 ; G. B. Slaughter, on section 36, and Geo. Johnson, on sec- 
tion 4. They all came from New York State. The town was organized 
in April, 1848. The first church was erected on section 7, in 1858, and 
known as St. Martin's Church. The first school house was called John- 
son's school house, and was located on section 12. The first physiciaa 
in the town was Dr. Winson, who resided on section 36. Rev. N. Mar- 
tin, of the Baptist Church, was the first pastor. Eunice Johnson was 
the first white child — born September 4, 1845. The first marriage that 
occurred was that of Mr. Geo. Howard and Miss Sarah Murray, which, 
took place in 1844. 

The surface of the country is undulating, in some places blufly. Soil 
generally rich and fertile, the principal productions being wheat, corrt 
and oats. No natural curiosities exist, though Indian relics have been 
found. 

Population in 1870, 1,443. 

SUN PRAIRIE. 
The township of Sun Prairie is situated in the northeastern quarter 
of the county, known as township 8 north, of range 11 east. The north- 
ern paat is prairie. The Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad passes through 
the northern part. The village of Sun Prairie is situated on parts of 
sections 4 and 5, 7 and 9, and is a station on the road. It is a place of 
considerable business, and large quantities of grain are shipped east. 
The village was organized under the charter on the fourth Tuesday of 
March, 18G8, when the following officers were elected : "W.m. H. Angell> 
President of the board; Ciias. H. Bird, Wm. F. Hardwick and C. R. 
27 



410 APPENDIX. 

Babcock, Board of Trustees ; William Reeves, Assessor ; G. M. Smith, 
Clerk. It contains about 1,000 inhabitants, has Baptist, Methodist Epis- 
copal, R. Catholic and Congregational churches and a large school build- 
ing, about a dozen stores, two hotels, two lumber yards, and two livery 
stables; five doctors, one lawyer, and one dentist, and a number of shops. 

The history of the origin of the name of the town has been given in 
the former part of this volume, to which reference is made. 

The town was first organized as such in the spring of 1848, with A. W. 
Dickinson, Town Clerk. 

Population in 1870— town, 984: village, 626. 

VERMONT. 

The township of Vermont is situated on the west line of the county, 
between the towns of Black Earth on the north, and Blue Mounds on the 
south, known as township 7 north, of range 9 east. It is well watered 
by numerous streams, the lands adjoining being rich and productive. 
As a whole the town is rough and hilly. There are no villages or post 
offices. 

The town was named by one of the settlers, after his native state. The 
first settler was a German, named Joshua Harmony, who located here 
in 1846. 

J. C. Steele, who located on section 7, and S. Batty, on section 6, 
were among the early settlers. The town was organized in 1855. The 
first officers were Whalon Hasbrook, Isaac C. Steele and Jno. Cald- 
well. Aaron Dana, Clerk. 

The first sermon was preached in the year 1849, by H. Maynard, of the 
Methodist Church. The first school district was organized in 1850 — 
Archibald Campbell the first teacher. A Roman Catholic church was 
built in 1859; a Norwegian Lutheran church in 1860. 

Population in 1870, 1,244. 

VERONA. 

The township of Verona is located in the southwestern quarter of the 
county, south of Middleton, and southwest of Madison, known as town- 
ship 6 north, of range 8 east. 

It is watered by Sugar river and Badger Mill creek. The surface of 
the countr}^ is rolling, diversified by hills and valleys, with considerable 
prairie land. 

The " Nine Mounds " are on section 8 ; the country adjoining is know^n 
as " Nine Mound Prairie." 

Verona village and post office is a small settlement on section 15. 

The town was first settled by people from England. The first lanii 
was sold in 1840. Wm. A. Wheeler built the first mill on Badger creek. 
The first school house was built on Badger Prairie. Presbyterian was 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. 411 

the first church organization ; A. Burns the first pastor. Margaket 
Stewart was the first white child born in the town ; E. Collins among 
the first male children. 

There is a cave of considerable extent in the northern part of the town, on 
section 5, an account of which may be found in chapter nine of this 
volume. Indian mounds and relics are found on section 18, and traces 
ot an Indian village on section 33. Also, the remains of an ancient 
bakery on section 25. 

The Dane County Poor House is located in this town, on section 14. 
It was opened for the reception ot inmates in 1854. The number of 
persons admitted since that time is 597. Of that number 60 have died, 
475 have been discharged, and 60 yet remain. The farm consists of 152 
acres — 90 acres tillable land, 62 acres lowland, and 60 acres of wood 
land. The building is constructed of brick, and is 40 x 60 feet in size. 
The farm and building cost $10,113.82. Other buildings have been erected, 
such as sheds, corn-cribs, barn, etc. The inmates are comfortably pro- 
vided with clothing, bedding, good substantial food, and all necessaries 
of life usually furnished in such institutions for the support of the poor. 

Population in 1870, 1,124. 

VIENNA. 

The township of Vienna is situated on the north side of the county, 
the second township north of Madison, and known as township 9 north, 
of range 9 east. 

There are no streams in this town, except in section 36. 

Norway Grove P. O. is located on section 23. 

The town derived its name from the town of Vienna in New York» 
Among the first settlers were Wm. G. Simonds, Louis Montander, S. 
Nicholson, Thos. Liday, David Robertson, A. A. Boyce and Willard 
Fisher. 

It was organized April 16, 1849. A. A. Boyce was elected Chairman; 
Benj. Nesmith and Willard Fisher, Supervisors ; Isaac Mann, Town 
Clerk; Thos. Lindsay, Assessor; Jabez Weston, Treasurer; Jonah 
PoYNER, W. Fisher, A. A. Boyce, Hubbell Fuller, Justices of the 
Peace. 

The first church was of the Lutheran denomination, ejected 1854 — 
Rev. Mr. Preuss, pastor. The first school house was built on section 7» 
in 1851. . 

The soil is fine, productive prairie. The timber embraces difl'ereht 
varieties of oak and some poplar. 

Population 1870, 1,177. 

WESTPORT. 
. The town of Westport lies north of Madison, and comprises all that 



412 APPENDIX. 

portion of township 8 north, of range 9 east, not covered by Lake 
Mendota. 

The town is watered by Six Mile Creek and Catfish Creek, with their 
tributaries. 

The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad enters on tlie south line at 
section 36, and passes through the tow^n northwesterly, passing out at 
section 6. Waunakee is a flourishing village and station on section 8. 
Westport post office is on section 21. Lake Mendota covers a part of 
sections 33, 34, 35 and 36. 

The town derives its name from the village of Westport, in Ireland. 
Among the early settlers were the Montanders, Boyles, O'Malleys, 
Collins, etc. The town was organized in 1849. First school was built 
on section 9, in 1846. First mill was built in 1847. In 1867 a R, Catholic 
■church was erected on section 22. The northern and western portions 
of the town are principally prairie — the rest marsh and timber. There 
were some Indian mounds and graves where the Hospital now stands. 

The Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane is located on section 35. 
The entire length ot the hospital building is 569 feet, the centre building 
being 65 x 120 feet. The elegant and commodious buildings are sur- 
rounded by ornamental grounds, wood and farming lands to the extent of 
293 acres, and when some contemplated improvements are added, a com- 
plete institution, creditable to the enterprise of the people of Wisconsin 
and their philanthropy, will suitably accomodate the unfortunates need- 
ing its protection. 

A more detailed description of the Hospital will be found in the former 
part of this volume. 

Population 1870, 1,589. 

WINDSOR. 

The township of Windsob lies on the northern line of the county > 
north of Burke, and known as township 9 north, of range 10 east. 

It is watered by small streams that flow into the Catfish, and the south- 
east corner by Token Creek. 

The surface of the country is prairie and oak openings. It is an ex- 
cellent township, and adapted to the production of corn, wheat and other 
cereals. 

As originally organized it included the present towns of Vienna, 
Windsor, Burke and Westport. The first town meeting was Jield at the 
house of Horace Lawrence in 1847. The first supervisor was Charles 
M. Nichols. 

The Madison and Portage railroad passes through the town, entering 
on the south line on section 32, and passing out on the north line on 
section 6. De Forest station and postoffice is on section 17 ; Morrison 



DANE COUNTY TOWNS. ^^5 

Station and postofflce, on section 6; and Windsor station and postoffice, 
on section 29, at which place are a few stores and mechanical shops. 
Population in 1870, 1,25G. 

r 

YORK. 

The township of Youk lies in the northeast corner of Dane county, 
inown as township 9 north, of range 12 east. It is watered in the south- 
west part by Waterloo creek. 

The surface of the country is prairie and oak openings, interspersed 
with natural meadows. 

The town was organized April 1, 1848. B. B. Fkeeman was chosen 
chairman, D. E. Emery and Walter Brown, supervisors, Martin 
Mead, justice of the peace, and Otis B. Lapham, town clerk. 

It is divided into eight school districts, and has two church organiza- 
tions. . 

York Center is a small village and postoffice at junction of sections 

15, 16, 21 and 22. 

Population in 1870, 1,069, 



il4 APPENDIX. 



ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 

On page 232, is an account of the organization of the Baptist Church 
and the erection of the churcli building. Rev. Foster Henry, of Ver- 
mont, informs tlie writer that he made an effort, during a sojourn at 
Madison in the winter of 1849, '50, to raise a subscription to build the 
church editice. That lie succeeded in raising some .$6,000, conditioned 
on the sum of $10,000 being subscribed. The latter amount was not 
reached and the effort was a failure. In .1054, Rev. M. D. Miller suc- 
ceeded in raising funds for the purpose as the narrative shows. 

In chapter six we omitted to notice among the organizations in the 
year 1854, that of Hiram Lodge, No. 50, of Free and Accepted Masons, 
which was effected on February 21. This Lodge is in a prosperous con- 
dition, as is also the " Concordia Lodge," No. 83, which was organized 
March 20, 1857, which was not noticed. 

Capitol Lodge No. 1, Independent Order of Good Templars, was insti- 
tuted March 19, 1856, and has prospered well ever since, now possessing 
one of the finest lodge rooms in the State, in Ogden's block. 

Among those who passed through the Four Lake country in early- 
times, and have left a record of their journey, is one family who have 
been inadvertantly overlooked. On the 8th of March, 1831, John H. 
KiNziE, Esq., then Indian agent at Fort "Winnebago, having occasion to 
visit Fort Dearborn, left the Fort (Winnebago) in company with his young 
wife and a few attendants. They encamped the first night on a stream 
emptying into Fourth Lake, and the next day passed around the lake. 
Scattered along its banks was an encampment of Winnebagoes who were 
friendly; they passed on to the " Blue Mound," and thence seven miles 
further to Col. Morrison's place, and thence to Kelloog's, to Dixon's, on 
Rock river and thence to Chicago. Mrs. Kinzie, in her very interesting 
work, " Wau-bun, the Early Day in the Northwest," N. Y., 1856, Svo.^ 
has an account of this journey. 



INDEX, 



Abbott, Abijah, referred to, 376. 
Abbott, H. «M visited Madison 18.3 <5<. 
Adams, C. F., visited Madieoa 18b0, 368. 
Aiasworth, Calvin, Police Justice, 287. 
Allen, C. H.. Supt. of Schools, 288. 
Allen, Elizabeth, Marria<^'eJ1838, 92. 
Allen, Gen. T. S., relerred to, 303. 
Albee, G. C, referred to, 229 
Aldrich, L. U., in the war, 2,4, 2.8 305. 
American Hotel, referred to, 3,, ,2, ,9,80, 

Ames, Nathaniel, rev. soldier, 268, 282, 291. 

Apostolic Church, referred to, 127. 

Armita<'-e. B'p W. E , 392. 

Arlidt! c! C. P., killed, 18.5-6, 289-90. 

Artesian Well, 310-13, 358-9 

Atwood, J. P., referred to, 252 2,4, 304. 

Argus aud Democrat, established, 230-31. 

Armel, Louis, early trader, 24. 

Atwell, B. D., wounded in war, 296. 

Atwell, W. P., same, 296. 

Atwood & Rublee. printers, etc., 230-31. 

Sea Madison State Joarnal. 
Atwood & Back, brick dwelhng, 222 
Atwood, David, referred to, 79, 222, 233, 26d, 

287. 29S, 320-1, 335, 349, 361, 367, 375. 
Atwood, Isaac, settler in 1838, 79^ 
Aubrey, Jas , killed in Black Hawk war, 

19, 20. 

Badt^er, Rev. Mr., teacher, 146. 

Bacon, R. S., Com. College, 249. 

Bailey. M. T., referred to, 314.^324. ^ 

Baird, H. S., at Madison site 1829, 17. 

Baker, Mrs. E. E.., referred to, 372. 

Baker, Dr. J. E., referred to, 342. 

Baker, J. L.. in the war, 305. 

Baltzell, J. R. referred to, 26.5, 303, 321,831. 

Bank of the West, organized, 242. 

Bank of Madi-^on, organized, 268. 

Baptist Church, organized and history, 196, 

232. 
Barnard, H., Chancellor, 266. 
Barnes, Frank, steamers, 295, 312. 
Bartlett, S. B , referred to, 372. , 
Baxter, D., contractor, etc., 71, 197. 
Beardsley, O., referred to, 120. 
Beecher, early settler at Cottage Grove, 160. 
Benedict, S. G., referred to, 252, 282. 
Beouchard, E., in Black Hawk war, 19. 
Billings & Firiain, 325. 
Bingham, H., referred to, 281. 
Bird, A. A., earlv settler, etc., 35, 36, 47, 57, 

70-73. 85, 257, 328-9. 
Bird, Chas. H., early settler, 72-74. 
Bird, Prosper B., early settler, 74. 
Bird, Mrs. P. B., 381. 
bird's Ruin«i, account of, 93. 
Bird, T. E., referred to, 284, 335, 367. 
Bird, Z. H , early settler, 74, 137. 
Bishop, Andrew, referred to, 370. 
Black Hawk war, 18-22. 



Blakesley, M., referred to, 301. 

Bliss, F., referred to, .367. 

Blue Mounds, description of, 16, 17. 

Blue Mounds, visited by Cnpt. Carver, 10. 

Bolden, Jesse, referred to, (i3, 64, 74. 

Borschenius, H., in war, 280. 

Botkin, ^lex., notice of, etc., 150, 224. 

Botkin, S. W., in war, ?86. 

Bowen,Dr. J. B., Mayor, etc., 265, 317, 335, 

.336. 
Boyles, A., & Co., Merchants, 191. 
Bradford, H.C., in Confederate service, 305. 
Bradford, S. A., Capt. Madison Guards, 233. 
Braley, A. B., Magistrate, 252, 349, 370. 
Brewer, F. B., referred to, 300. 
Briggs, Fied., ref^^rred to, 297. 
Brigj?s, Giles, workman on old Capitol. 74. 
Brioham, Ebenezer, memoir. 12-15. 
Bricham, Ebenezer, referred to, 33, 77, 80, 

i;2-14, 127, 1.38, 239. 
Brigham, David, early settler, 79, 130, 138, 

145. 
Brigham, J. R., referred to, 149, 180, 221, 

361-2. 
Brisbane, Rev. W. H., Baptist church, 2:52. 
Britt, C. C, Madison in 1842, 141-:3. 
Brittan, Rev. J. B., Grace Church. 246 251. 

Brown, Hiram, etc., referred to, 314. 

Brown, John A., at Madison, 1842, 141-3. 

Brown, Tim., referred to, 282, 290-2, 

Bryant, Geo. E., County Judge, in the war, 
etc., 274, 278, 279, 297, 302, 324, 3.59. 

Brooks, Rev. W. R., Baptist Church, 
232-33. 

Brunson, Rev.Dr. A., paper on Madison, 
1841-3, 134-7, 351-3. 

Bruen, W. D., built Bruen's Block, 234. 

Bruen's Block Tenants, 2.52. 

Buck, Roval, Teacher, etc. , 149, 222. 

Butterfleld, Jona. early settler. 111. 

Bunker, G. W., referred to, 360. 

Burdick, Elisha, referred to, 365. 

Burial Places, 164-168. 

Bull, J. M., referred to. 286. 

Bundy, G. & D., workmen on Capitol, 74. 

Burgoyne, Dr., referred to, 328. 

Bushnell, C, Madison Hotel, 73, 

Bush, D. C, referred to, 331. 

Burnham, John, referred to, .53. 

Burton, R. W., Supt. Orphans' Home, 300. 

Butler, J. D„|referredto,268, 298. 

Byrne, J. A., referred to, 266. 

Cadel, Rev. R. F.. Minister, 128. 
Calimanee, Indi'^n Chief, 113. 
Calkins, E. A., Editor, 2.30. 
Camack, Jas.. referred to, 365. 
Campbell, Daniel, referred to, 35. 
Campbell, Ed., early Merchant, 37, 101, 

127. 
Campbell, Jae., referred to, 337. 
Carman, A. F., referred to, 231, 233. 



416 



INDEX. 



Carpenter, J. H., residence, etc., 265, 365. 
Carpenter, S. H., referred to, 82, :231,335. 
Capitol erected 1837, 68-70: new Capitol, 

313. 318.3:i7-8. 
Capitol Square — Judge Knapp''8 account, 

191-2. 
Carver, Jona., Visits Blue Mounds, 10. 
Capron, Geo., referred to, 265, 362. 
Crtllin, John, Reminiscences, etc, 32-40, 

50,53,65,77, 78, 127,228. 
Catlin, Steptoe, early settler. 59. 
Cave, The, of Dane county, 378-390. 
Cemetery Grounds purchased, 169, 170. 
CeneuB United States, 332. 
Chadbourne, P, A., University, 310. 
Chaetar, Capturer ot Black Hawk, 21. 
Chapman, U. B:, remiuii^cences, 170-80. 
Chapman, C. B., referred to, 81, 233,278, 

349, 360. 
Chapman, C. P., Account of Governor's 

Guard, etc., 302-6, 367, 370. 
Chase, E R., in the war, 304. 
Chicago Fire, alluded to, 345. 
Chimes, Grace Church. 371-3. 
Chiitenden, C. C, in the war, 605. 
Christophers & Co.. referred to, 367. 
Chrisman, A., at Madison in 1832, 24. 
<;hurch & ilawley, referred to, 283. 
Chuich of Holy Redeemer, 258,313,325. 
City Hall, erected, 258. 
City Hotel, built, 80. 
City of I'oiir Lakes, surveyed, etc., 28, 59, 

88, 
City of, N., S., E. and W. Madieon, sur- 
veyed, 59. 
City ol 1st and 2d Lake surveyed, 59. 
Clark, Cyrus, referred to, 74. 
Clark, Darwin, early settler, 74, 122, 265 

360, 381. 
Clark, Geo. T., in war, 305. 
Clark, Rev. J. C. C, Rastor Baptist Church 

233. 
Clark, Jesse A., Madison Hotel, etc., 73, 362 
Clark, Rev. J. M., referred to, 130, 189. 
Clark, Julius T., Reminiscences, 129, 138, 

172, 181-186, 264. 
Clark, Satlerlee, referred to, 53. 
Clements, Dr. J. f.. Superintendent Luna- 
tic Asylum, 309. 
Cobb, Kev. H. K., Methodist Minister, 357. 
Coil, D. R„ in me war, 305, 
Cole, Orsamus, referred to, 265, 274 359. 
Cougregationai Church, history, 129-133, 

2.5J-1, 258, 313-14, 349, 366, 372-5. 
Conklin, J., referred to, 365. 
Coon, S. Park, iu the war, 276. 
Cooper, Rev. Jas., Pastor Baptist C hurch, 

232. 
Corning-, J. W., workman on old capitol,74 
Corecot, J., referred to, 297. 
Cotton, L. H., referred to, 7. 
Coues, Miss L, L., teacher, 269. 
Covalle, Philip, early trapper, 41, 110. 177 

204-5. 
Culver, J. O., Journal Office, 231 344. 
Cundall, Rev. I. N., referred to, 300. 
Curtis, Miss Emelme, teacher, 297. 

Taggett, M. E. & Co., 367. 
Dane Baptist Association, 233. 
Dane County Bank, organized, 242-3. 
i>aue County Cavalry, organized, 264. 
Dane County Commissioners, 94. 
Dane County Organized, 121-2, 125-6. 
Dane County, named by Gov. Dodge, 30. 
Dane County Peat Beds, referred to, 255 

257. 
Darwin, A- G., referred to, 283. 



Dftvis, A. C, referred to, 284. 

Davidson, W., builder, 313. 

Davis, R. T, early settler, 79. 

Dean, E. B., Merchant, etc., 137, 144, 151^ 

191, 239 302. 
Dean, N. W., Merchant, 144, 148, 313, 328. 
Dean, Thaddeus, referred to, 302. 
Dean & Pardee, referred to, 302. 
Deards, W., builder, 313. 
De Forest, I. N., referred to, 2.50, 298. 
DeKorra, captured Black Hawk, 21. 
Delaney, John, Wisconsin Democrat, 140, 
Delaplaine, Geo P., early settler, etc., 78, 

79, 95, 100, 151, 179, 237, 251, 265, 282. 
Delaplaine & Burdick, Lake Side House, 

241-2, 312. 
Deniiie, Wm. N., referred to, 42-3, 57. 
Devil's Lake, H. A. Tenney's Account^ 

Dixon, Dr. L. J., surgeon in war, 281. 
Dodge, Gen. Henry, referred to, 28, 32. 
Dodge, Be?. R. v.. Pastor Presbyterian. 

church, 226. 
Doty, Gov. J. Duane, early proprietor, etc., 

17, 18, 35-38, 46-7, 55-6, 65, 71-79. 
Drake, L. P., referred to, 72. 
Draper, L.C., referred to, 54, 82, 202,307,319.- 
Dunn, Chas., reierred to, 40, 41, 73. 
Duncombe, a suicide, 123. 
Dunning, Jones & Co., building, 268. 
Dunning & Sumner, building, 315. 
Durrie, D. S., reierred to. 224-6, 238, 253, 

307, 319. 

Earl], E., referred to, 362. 

Eastman, B. C, reierred to, 120. 

Eastman, G. W., workman on Capitol, 74, 

Easlon, John, same. 79, 81. 

Edgerton, B. K. & E. W., early land pro- 
prietors, 59. 

Ezgleston, M., Capitol workman, 74, 

Egtrleston, Rev. N. H., Pastor Cong. Ch.,. 
131, 250, 2t)4, 265. 

Ellsworth, W. J., referred to, 342. 

Episcopal Church organized, etc., 101. See 
Grace Church. See Apostolic Church. 

Fairchild, Cassius, in war, 280, 287, 304. 
Fairchild, Charles, in the war, 252. 
Fairchild, Jairus C, mayor, etc., 224, 234, 

252, 283. 
Fairchild, Lucius, in the war, etc., 274, 277,. 

287, 292, 303, 367. 
Fake & Cotton, American House, 37. 
Fake, Mrs. H., referred to, 128. 
Fallows, Rev. S , referred to, 349, 3.56. 
Farwell, Gov. L. J., referred to, 159, 192-4, 

201-2, 219-20, 228-9. 
Fay, John, referred to, 367. 
Fellows, Rev. Geo., reierred to, 298. 
Fess, Geo. E., referr»-d to, 346. 
Featherstonhaugh, G. W., geologist, 54,. 

58-61. 
Field, A. P., early settfer, etc., 58, 100. 
Findlay, A., reierred to, 315. 
First Wedding. 92 
First Bell in Madison, 194-6. 
Finch & Blanchard, merchants, 191. 
First National Bank organized, 292. 
Firmin, F. H., referred to, 238. 
Fish & Stephens, referred to. 342, 366. 
Fisher & Reynolds, referred to, 335. 
Fleischer, H., surveyor, 27 
Flower, J. M., Police Justice, 308. 
Four Lake Country, various relercnceB,10,. 

11, 15, 16, 23. 
Fox, Rev. M. A., referred to, 361. 
Fox, S. R., merchant, 249. 



INDEX. 



417 



Fox, Eev. Wm., Meth. clergyman, 352. 

Force, Wm., at Blue Mounds, 20. 

Ford, J. C, referred to, 365. 

Frazier, Judge, referred to. 39, 41-44, 211. 

Fritschel', Prof., relerred to. 321. 

Frodsham, B., relerred to, 312, 

Fuller, A. C. referred to, 373. 

Fuller, M. E. & Co., merchants, 315, 

Fullertuu, T. M., preacher, 35-'i. 

Fyfe, Kev. Dr,, releired to, 232. 

Gage, Henry, referred to, 74. 

Gardiner. Rc\. H. B., Presbyterian Church, 
2-25-(), 235. 

Garutiart, J. H., Eeaper works. 343-4, 

Gary. George, Jouriial office, 230. 

Gentry, J. B., in Black Hawk War, 19. 

George, Jacob, relerred to, 80. 

Gernjan Cattolic Church. See Church of 
Holy Eedeemer. 

German Evan^-ehcal Society, 302. 

German Lutheran Church, 264, 317, 321. 

German Jlethodiet Church, 296, 

Giles. H. H., referred to, 369. 

Gill, A., relerred lo, 366. 

Gilman, George, merchant, 283. 

Goodhue, Dr., ''relerred to, 141-2. 

Goodhue, — , at Water 'k wn, 1837, 63. 

Good Templars— Capital Lodge No. 1 insti- 
tuted March 19, 1856, 414. 

Gordon, W. I., referred to, 362. 

Gorum, Daniel, referred to, 232, 235. 

Governors' Guard, Historv of, 263, 303-6. 

Grace Church History, 101, 151-2, 246-8, 
318, 329-31. 

Gray. Dr. John, referred to. 362, 

Gray, Nfly, referred to, 274, 366. 

Greeley. Horace, visit, 244. 

Green. J. E., referred to, 286, 304. 

Green. Eev. W. L., Presbyterian Church, 
226, 287, 298, 

Gregory, J. C, Mayor, etc , 31.5, 360, 36.5. 

Gri^non, P. B,, referred to, 120. 

Grimm, G., referred to, 369, 

Gross, — , tried for murder, 199. 

Habich, C, referred to, 233, 
Hall, Misses, in Black Hawk war, 19. 
Halpiu, James, referred to, 23-4, 175-6,233. 
Halstead, Hev. J., referred to, 351. 
Hamilton, Wm. IS., early settler in Wis. ,14. 
Haney, Berry, refer: ed to, 36,41, 55, 117,215. 
Harris. C. L., in war. 274, 287, 303, 
Harnden, H., referred to, 300, 
Harvey, J, W., builder, 284. 
Harvey, Gov. L. P., relerred to, 285-6. 
Harvey, Mis. L. P., Orphan's Home, 300. 
Hasbrouck & Gurnee, referred to, 264. 
Haskell, F. A., referred to, 26.5. 296, 304. 
HastinRs, S. D., Maditon Manufacturing 
Co., 236, 265, 292. 

Hathaway, , early settler, 74. 

Hawley, Cyrus, referred to, 42. 
Hawley, Wm., in war, 287, 303. 
Hawes, W. N,, referred to. 82. 
Hays, Eev, L. Y., Presbt Ch., 226, 361, .376. 
Hendricks, E. W & W , boat builders. 314. 
Hennl, Bishop, relerred to, 235, 312, 325. 
Hewitt, E., capilol workman. 74. 
High Sichool Building, 363-4, 366. 
Hill. Jas. L., Mayor, 268, 348. 
Himebau^h, Eev. M , referred to, 357. 
Bobbins, Dr. Wm., referred to, 278. 
Bodge, Eev John, referred to, 351. 
Holmes, Jeff., capitol workman, 74, 85. 

Bolmes, , Jauesville settler, 76. 

Bolt, Benj., school teacher, etc., 146, 148, 
355. 

28 



Holt, David, Postmaster, etc., 151, 174, 224 

2,30. 
Honn, S. F., merchant, 80. 
Hook and Ladder Co. organized, 261. 
Hooley, E.M., referred to, 341-2. 
Hope Lodge, I. O. O. F., organized, 190. 
Hopkins, B. F., referred to. 223, 290. 
Hospital for Insane, 240, 261,272-3, 308. 
Hough. D. E,, killed in war, 292, 
Hoyt, L. W., referred to, 344, 
Huchting, F. B., wounded in war, 275, 287. 
ttutchinson, B. E., referred to, :344. 
Hubbard, H. F.. in war, 297, 
Hunt, J. W., referred to, 232, 2.36. 
Byer, David, early settler, 74, 82, 127-8, 
Hver, Geo., referred to. 65, 79, 127, 138-40, 

204-6. 
Hyer, N. F., referred to, 1.38. 
Hydraulic Power, leased, 167-8. 

Hlsley, Edward, in war, 305. 
Ingman, iT. L. S.. referred to, 297. 
Irvin, Judge David, 38, 41, 211. 214-15. 
Irwin, A. J., referred to, 120. 

Jackson, Thos.. workman, old capitol, 74, 

1.38,210, 
Jarvis, W. B.. octagon house, 2.50. 
Jetierson, J, W., in war. 278, 287, 303, 
Joachim, M., relerred to, 365. 
Johnson, Eev. J. E., Bapt. Ch., 2;31, 23-3. 
Johnson. J. W,, referred to, 305. 
Johnson, John, referred to, 13. 
Jones, A. E., in war, 286. 305, 
Jones, John N,, referred to, 274, 302, 315. 
Jones, Octavous, referred to, 371. 
Juneau, Solomon, referred to, 13, 59. 

Kavanaugh, Peter, referred t<j, 174, 
Kanouse, T. D. . in war, 305. 
Kegonsa, 1st Lake, account of, 15. 
Kellogj?, Lafayette, early settler, 79. 81, 94, 

129. 
Kemper, Bishop, J., referred to, 124. 
Kendall, J. E.. referred to. 250. 
Kentucky House built, 145. 
Kentzler, Andrew referred to, 312. 
Kerr, Prof. A., referred to, 365. 
Keyes, E. W^, Mayor, etc., 232, 297, 308, .344. 
Kilsore, D. Y., School Supt., 237. 
Kingston, J, T., referred to, 90. • 
Kinney, Jefi"., capitol workman, 74. 
Klauber, S. & Co., stores, etc., 268, 274,283. 
KJauber & Ott, merchants. 315. 
Kleuter, H., referred to. 344. 
Knapp, J. G., early settler, etc., 65, 78, 91-2; 

97, 99, 120, 191-2. 
Kohner, B., referred to, 301. 
Kundig, Kev. M. K., R. Catholic clergyman,. 

147. 

Lake House, erected, 173. 

Lake Side Water Cnre, 241. 

Lansing, E. W., reminiscences, 152-159. 

Lapham, I. A., account of mounds, 11. 

Laphnm. I. A., President of Historical 

Society, 306. 
LathroD, J. H., Chancellor of University,. 

218-287, ^ 

Lavec, early resident, 84. 
Lawrence, H , same. 74. 
Lawrence, H. K., referred to, .304. 
Leahey, Eev. M., confined for murder, 173. 
Legislature, First Madison Session, 90-2. 
Leirch, Wm. T.. referred to, 282, 287, 289» 

294, 321, 336, 365. 
Leland, C, workman on Capitol, 74, 
Lewie, H. M., referred lo, 265. 



418 



INDEX, 



Lewis, J. H. referred to, 80. 

Lishthizer, H. B., in war, 305. 

Lindhorst, F. W., referred to, 26.5. 

Lincoln, President, Death of, 298. 

" Little Dandy." Chief at Madison. 1837, 66. 

Livesey, Jamet;, builder, etc., 26, 363. 

Lord, Eev. <'harle8. Pastor Congregational 

Church, 131, 177. 
Lovewell, J. T., school superintendent, 

297. 
Low, Captain, referred to 23-4, 102, 105. 
Lull, Dr. A., referred to. 79-122. 
Lyon, Isaac. Historical Society, 319. 
Lyon, Orson, early surveyor, 27. 
Lyon, W. P., flag presentation, 311, 

McArthur, A., referred to, 250, 265. 
McBride, E. S., referred to, 344. 
McCabe, J. P. B., census of 1842, 141. 
McConnell, B., in war. 304. 
McDill, Dr. A. S., lunatic asylum, 309. 
McDonald, A. H., wounded iu war, 297. 
McPadden, Mrs., early settler, 115. 
McFarland, D., referred to, 283. 
McFavland, John H., referre to, 282, 290. 
McHugh, Kev. S., Kector of Grace Church, 

150-1. 
McKenney, J. C, referred to, 321, 359. 
McMynn, J. G., referred to, 310. 
Madison, academy organi'^ed, 150. 
Business, 1842, 140. 
Board of Education, 238, 291. See 

Schools. 
Boat Club, referred to, 345. 
Encampment, 233. 
Express, established, 96-7, 179, 200. 
Ensrine Companies, organized, 262. 
Gas Light and Coke Co., 245-6. 
Guards, established, 233, 263. 
Hotel, early history of. 72-75, 79. 
Hotel Co., organized, 229. 
Hydraulic Co., chartered, 242. 
Incorporated as a village, 150-1, 166-7. 
Incorporated as a city, 251-2. 
Institute, organized, 233. 
Lodge, F. & A. M., organized, 151. 
Lyceum, organized, 78- 129. 
Manufacturers in. 1839, 1852, 1856, 1864, 

102, 230, 250, 299. 
Merchants, 1850, 221. 
Mutual Ins. Co., incorporated, 239, 291. 
Sacred Music Society, incorporated, 224. 
St. George's Society, organized, 2.55. 
School District No. 1, organized, 139. 
Select School, opened, 140. 
State Journal established, 230-1, 333-35 
Topography, 31. 

Typograph. society organized, 1.34. 
Young Mens' Ass. organized, 231. 
Yacht club, organized, 345. 
Village School Distiict, organized, 189, 
200. 
Maeder, F., referred to, 81, 342. 
Main, A. H., Gov't Ass., etc., 322-3, 366. 
Main, W. S., referred to, 232, 249. 
Mallo, Daniel, early settler, 224. 
Mallows, O. C, referred to, 367. 
Marquette. Father, referred to, 9. 
Marshall & Ilelev. State Bank, 229. 
Marshall Bros. & Co., referred to, 361. 
Marsh, L. R., surveyor, 48. 
Mareton, J. T., referred to, 232, 249. 
Martin, M. L., referred to, 17, 18, 65, 120. 
Mason, Geo. A., relerred to, 284, 292, 370. 
Mason, S. T., village proprietor, 46. 
Mason, Rev. L. B., in war, 280. 
Masonic Celebration, 1845, 1.51. 
Massing, F., referred to, 324, 



Matson,Eev. L. E., Pastor Cong. Ch , 294, 

298. 
Mayers, Casper, referred to, 367. 

Mayers, Chas, Geo., referred to, 266,279,360. 

Maxwell, Rev. Jas. L., Grace Church, 288. 

Maxwell, E. C, early workman, 74. 

Matts, P. W., early settler, 127. 

Mather, Rev. P. S., referred to, 357. 

Maxwell, Jas., referred to, 120. 

Mears, J. R., referred to, 34 1. 

Mendotd or 4th lake, description of, 14. 

Merchants' Bank, organized, 255. 

Meredith, A. A., in war, etc., 275, 277, 304. 

Merrill, C., early workman, 74. 

Merrill, fl., referred to, 104. 

Merrill, J. S., early workman, 74. 

Messersmith, Geo., referred to, 50. 81,342-3 

Messersmith, John, early settlex', 65, 81. 

Methodist Church, history, etc., 291,350-57, 
366. 

Miller, Judge A. G.. referred to, 40. 

Miller, Rev. J. G., Evang. Ass., 226-7. 

Miller, M. D., referred to, 232-4, 257, 290. 

Miller, W. H., in war. 304. 

Mills, Arthnr C, in M'ar, .305. 

Mills, Simeon, early settler, 20, 36, 38, 75-6, 
79, 148, 168, 221, 229, 268, 290, 308,317,320, 
344, 381. 

Milwaukee and Miss. R. R. opened to Mad- 
ison, 235, 238-9. 

Miner, Rev. E. S., Cong. Church, 139. 

Mitchell, L. C, in war, 305. 

Mohr, F., referred to, 252, 367. 

Montandon, L. , early settler, 177. 

Moore, D. B., in war, 297. 

"Monks Hall." 362. 

Monona or 3d lake, descrip. of, 15. 

Mounds in Dane Co., 11. 

Morrison, Jas., early settler, 71, 79, 80, 265, 
270. ; 

Morton, Col., referred to, 41. 

Moseley <fc Bro., referred to, 334. 

Mumford. D., early workman, 74. 

Murray, Owen, same, 74. 

National Hotel built, 137, 155. 
Nelson, E. H., workman on capitol, 74. 
Nichols, Col. Ab., referred to, 41,65,80,116- 

17, 121. 
Nicholas, J. S., land proprietor, 129. 
Noble, J. D., referred to, 81. 
Noland, W. H., referred to, 309. 
Nolan, Rev. John, referred to, 357. 
Nolden's Hotel built, 81. 
Noonan. J. A., early resident, 35, 37,50,51, 

79 93 94 127, 
Northrup,'H. J., nferred to, 233. 

Oakley, E. S., in war, 304. 

Ogdon, A. & W. B.. referred to, 362. 

Ogden, F. A., referred to, 344. 

O'Neill. -T. F., building commissioner, 71-2 

Orton, H,S., 'relerred to, 231,233,235,263,266. 

274, 297. 
Oeborn, kept Madison Hotel, 73. 
Ott, J. G., referred to, 367. 

Paine, Byron, referred to, 283. 
Palmer, 1. N., early settler, 74, 78, 81. 
Pardee, A. A., referred to, 344. 
Park Hotel, account of, etc , 328, .338-40. 
Patriot Newspaper published. 231. 
Payne, Geo., early mechanic, 79. 
Pearson, Albert, in war, 305 
Peaseley, C. C, early workman, 14, 53, 
Peck, Eben, first settler, 33,.36,53,54,55, 82, 
101-2. 



INDEX. 



419 



Peck, Mrs. Roseliue, narrative, etc., 54-7, 
82-4,381. 

Pellaae, Henry, killed in war, 305. 

Pellkie, Jos., resident in 1837, 55, 84, 110, 
214. 

Perry, B. F., kept Madison Hotel, 73. 

Penoyer. K., early workman, 74. 

Philo. Rev. W., Epis. Vh., 81, 126-8, 187-8. 

Pickard, J- L., elected President of Uni- 
versity, 266, .310. 

Pickarts , A., referred to, .331. 

Pierce, Albert H., refei-red to, 67. 

Pierce, Miss, teacher, 129. 

Pierce, Joflah, early settler, 66. 

Pillsbnry, Rev. S., referred to, 351. 

Pinneo— a resident in 1837, 112, 206-8. 

Pinney, S. U., Mayor, etc., 369-70. 

Pitman, W. G., in 'the war, 286, 304. 

Piatt, Arthur, in the war, 279. 

Plunkett W. H., in war, 274, 304. 

Poll List 1839, 96. 

Poole, D. W. C, in the war, 274, 304. 

Portaire Railroad opened, 337. 

Porter, Wm. F., referred to. 274. 

Potter, J. S., first marriage, 92. 

Potter, Jairus and Horace, early settlers, 
75. 

Powers, D. J., referred to, 265. 

Powers, Rev. H., clersymau, 235. 

Pratt. A. F., early traveler, 26, 41-2, 51-2. 

Presbyterian Ch. History, 224-5, 360-1. 

Protestant Episcopal Church. See Grace 
Church. Philo, Rev. W. 

Prentiss, N. C. Building Commissioner, 71. 

Pritchette, K., early land proprietor, 102. 

Proudfit, A., Mayor, etc , 323-4, 331. 

Proudfit, J. K., referred to, etc., 279, 303, 
314. 

Proudfit, Miss Sarah M., referred to, 372. 

Pulford, Dr., referred to, 153. 

Quaw, Rev. Mr., alluded to, 124, 187. 
Quivey, E., kept Madison Hotel, 73. 

Ramsay & Campbell, referred to, 315. 
Randall, G. P. & Co., .363. 
Randall Guards organized, 275, 277, 287. 
Itandoloh, J. P., military history, 274, 277, 

282, 304. 
Rankin, C. S. Jb Co., dome builders, .318. 
Rannev, Dr. M., Lunatic Asylum, 309 
Rasdall, Abel, early settlor, 20-1, 24, 2.5, 33, 

68, 79. 82, 123-4, 177, 188. 
Hasdall, Wm. M., early settler, 82, 145, 177, 

312. 3.57. 

Rebellion History, 273-279. 

Read, E. L., Experience in Army, 281-2. 

Read, Danie', referred to, 299. 

Read, Rev. E. G, Presbyterian Ch..226. 

Read, Theodore, funeral ceremonies, 299. 

Ream, R. L., eaily settler, 72, 79, 1U2-6, 127. 

Peam, Yinnie, referred to. 72. 

Reed, Harrison, State Journnl, 230. 

Reed, Herbert, re/erred to, 282. 

Peed, E. R., in war, 277. 

Revnolds, Tlios , referred to, 239, 280, 296, 

304. 
Riordan, Rev., referred to, 312. 
Bichards, Mrs. L. A., Cong. Ch. Bt-11, 368. 
Richard>(. Rev. C. H., Pastor Cong, Ch., 

313, 349-50, 371. 

Richardson, Rev. H. Stone, rtiferred to, 357. 
Rising, R. s., settler, 1837, 74. 
Robbins & Thornton, leferred to, 367-8. 
Rock, Thomas, referred to, 366. 
Hockwood, Richard, early resident, 74. 
Rollins, Nat., referred to, 275, 292, 304. 



Rountree. J. H.. in Black Hawk War, 19. 
Rowan, W., early resident, 20, 24, 104. 
Rowe, Henry early workman, 74. 
Ruggles, J. D., in the war, 305. 

Sabin, G. M., in the war, 305. 

St. Cyr. Michel, early trader, 25-27, 35,41, 

49, 52. 
St. Ranhaers Church erected, 234-5. 
St. Regina Seminary built, 344. 
Salomon, Guv. E. referred to, 306. 
Salter, Benj., referred to, 65. 
Sanborn, A. S., Mayor. 314, 348. 
Schools and School Houses, referred to, 

100-1, 129, 139-40, 149. 189-90. 200, 220-1- 

2-3-7-8, 233, 249-50, 255-257, 264, 269-70, 

288, 291-2, 297,300,309-10,3:5-16,322-25, 

332-6, 365. 
Schette, J. C, Foundry. 284. 
Schermerhoru House built, 78. 
Searie, E S., school teacher. 100. 
Searles, Rev. J. M., referred to, .357. 
Seaver, W., early workman, G3, 75. 
Seymour, Wm. N., early settler, 129, 178, 

188, 2:30, 233. 
Seward, W. H., visits Madison, 268. 
Settlers, 1840-41, 134, 138. 
Sexton, Andrew, referred to. 26.5, 279. 
Shackleford, B., referred to, 79. 
Sheldon, S. L., merchant, 315. 
Shipman, S. V., referred to, 281, 29.3, 308. 
Shields & Sneeden. merchants, 302. 
Sherman, J. B., in Black Hawk War, 19. 
Sholes. C. C, refe: red to, 86. 
Shake Ra?, early name of Mineral Point,41. 
Sheldon, J. P., Wis. Democrat, 140. 
Sherwin, A., referred to, 265. 
Skinner, E. W., referred to, 265, 315. 
Slaughter, Geo. H., early settler, 255-6. 
Slaughter, Wm B., early settler, etc., 21, 

27-8, 80, 127. 255-6. 
Slater, — , Madison Hotel, 73. 
Slightam, J., referred to, 367. 
Slingerland, E., early Minister, 128-131. 
Smedley, Miss, Teacher, 149. 
Siuuh. T.v.iJ., Mayoi etc., 262, 265, 267 

268, 350. 
Smith. John Y., early settler, etc., 10, 11, 

140-1, 143-4, 148, 225, 238, 307, 313. 
Smith, L.M.. Teacher, 144. 
Smith, Nicholas, early Merchant, 78. 224. 
Smith, Gen. W. R., referred to, 87, 307. 
Snow. Rev. J. M., referred to, 352. 
Spalding, Kev. H. W.. Grace Church, 318, 

331. 
Sorenson & Frederickson, referred to, 313, 

316, 360. 
Soldiers' Orphans' Home, 299, 300. 
Spencer, D. J., referred to, 81,181. 
Sprague, E.T., in war, 278 304. 
Stacy, S. G., referred to, 237. 
Staines, H. B., referred to, 2.50. 
State Historical Society, organized, etc., 

202, 306-8. 
State Hospital for Insane, 240, 261, 272-3, 

308'. 
State Jonrnal, established, 230. See At- 

wood. D., Madison State Journal. 
Starkweather, J. C. referred to, 275, 281. 

304. 
Starks, J. J., City Treasurer, 252. 
Steam Saw Mill, 78. 
Steamer City of Madison, 314. 
Steamers, see Barnes, F. 
Steam Fire Engine s, 313. 
Stebbins, Rev. S., referred to, 351, 5.5, 57. 
Sterling. J. W., referred to, 225, 226, 235, 

266,304. 



420 



INDEX. 



Sterlinjr, W.T., early settler, 79, 81, 100, 

127, 138. 
Stevens, Mrs. E. F., referred to, 373. 
Stewart, J. H., referred to, 3(57. 
Stolze, F. A., referred to, 386. 
Stone, JL. i)., referred to, 313. 
Stoner, John, early setiler, 78, 290,346-8. 
Stoner, G.W., referred to. 100, 290, 348. 
Stoner, Madison, first male child, 347. 
Straight. John, referred to, 27. 
Strong, M. M., Surveyor, etc., 35-6, 45-48, 

50. 
Sullivan, W. J., Merchant, 295, 313, 372. 
Suckow. B. VV., referred to, 313. 
Sumner. J. M., in the war. 286. 
Sumner, Ed., referred to, 3H7. 
Sutherland, Thos. W., early settler, 79, 

127, 266-67. 
Survey.^ of Four Lakes, 27. 
Suydam, J. V., surveyed Madison, 28-31. 
Symington, Capt. J., referred to, 86. 
Symonds, VVm. and John, early workmen, 

74-85. 

Tallmadge, Gov. N. P,, referred to, 79. 
Tappan, E. A., in the war, 274. 
Taylor, Bayard, visits Madison, 244. 
Taylor, Jonathan, referred to, 118. 
Taylor, Kev. L., Congregational Minister, 

271. 
Telegraph established, 190. 
Tenuey, C. K., referred to, 370. 
Tenney, D. K., referred to, 290, 324. 
Tenuey, H. A., Editor, etc., 148. 159-65, 

231, 233, 242, 276. 311, 377, 380. 
Terrill, Wm., workman on capitol, 74. 
Thayer, Delaucy. referred to, 224. 
Thompcon, Kev. H. M., Episcopal Church, 

152. 
Thompson. Rev. C. L., referred to, 361. 
Thornton, H. W., game, 74. 
Tibbitts & Gordon, merchants, 203. 
Titfany, H. A., early phisician, 181. 
Tiger, The, gambling house, 80, 81, 342-43. 
Tinline, James, capitol workman, 74. 
Tolford, J. W., referred to, 286, 305. 
Towers, Isaac, resident 1837. 77. 
Towers, Wm. P., Orphans Home, 300. 
Trappers of Four Lakes, 10. 
Tredway, W. VV.. rtiferred to, 265, 276, 289. 
Twombly, J. H., President University, 350. 

rbeldine, resident 1837, 103, 208, 209. 
Underwood. J. H., artesian well, 310. 
Union CoupregatU Church, organized, 265. 
University ilin, Account of, 31. 
University of Wisconsin, organization and 

history, 1S3, 199, 200, 217-19, 240, 258-9, 

266, 271, 310, 335. 
United States Court House and Post Office, 

account ol, 321-2, 340-1. 

Van Bergen, P. H., early resident, 73, 131 

222, 341, 361. 
Van Norstrand, Dr. A. H., referred to, 309. 
Van Slyke, N. B., referred to, 243 250 257 

292. 
Van Wyck, A., referred to, 314. 



Vinevard, J. R., killing of C. C. P. Arndt, 

139-40, 289. 
Vilas, Henry, in the war, 286. 
Vilas, L. B., 221, 228, 243, 268, 271, 287, 29S. 
Vilas, VV. F., in the war, 286. 304, 350. 
Vroman, Geo., early settler, 75. 

Wakefield, J. A., account of Four Lakes, 23, 

Wakeley, K., referred to, 78, 317. 

Ward, i)r. A J., in the war, 277. 

Ward, Horatio, referred to. 301. 

War of Rebel ion. See Rebelliou History, 

Warner, C. E., wounded in war, 296. 

Warren, — , killed by lightning, 111. 

Waubeea, Second Lal^e, account of, 15. 

Wauconda, Indian Chief, 84. 

Weed, Charles, relerred to, 73, 79, 334. 

Welch, J. U., referred to, 73. 

Welch, Willam, referred to, 73, 168, 169, 

252, 350, 362. 
Wells. W. C, merchant, 334. 
Weston, J. D., merchant, 46. 149, 233. 
Wheeler, W. A., early settler, 75. 
Wheeder, N. W., referred to, 86. 
White, Wm , imprisoned lor murder, 173. 
Whitman, Kev. S. S., Baptist Minister, 

196, 233. 
Whitt!es(!y, Col. C , early traveler, 22-3. 
Whiiesides, — , early capitol workman, 75. 
Widvey, T. J., m the w«r, 287, 305. 
Wilco.x, T. M., referred to, 138. 
Wilkinson, Kev. J., referred to, 331. 
Williams, C. L., referred to, 284. 
Williams, David, early workman, 74. 
Williamson, E. M., early -settler, 39, 79, 

100-1, 138, 386. 
Wiljon, J. M., referred to, 76. . 
Wilson, John T., early mechanic, 79. 
Wilson, R. F., early settler, 149. 
Winnebago Outbreak, etc., 12, 163. 
Winnequah, Summer Resort, 312. 
W^isconsiu Academy of Arts and Sciences 

organized, 317. 
Wis. Argus, newspaper, 77, 148, 179, 189. 
Wisconsin Bank, at Madison, org'd, 257. 
Wisconsin Democrat, newspaper, 140. 
Wisconsin Enquirer, newspaper. 92-3, 138. 
Wisconsin Patriot, newspaper, 231. 
Wisconsin Statesman, newspaper, 219 
Wisconsin State flistor. Soc. See State 

Histcr. Society. 
Wisconsin State Journal. See Madison 

State Journal, etc. 
Wolves in Madison, 119. 
Wood, Al'.raia, early resident, 36, 41, 55, 76, 

84. » 

Wood, Chas. A., referred to, 274, 304. . 
Wooaward, W. H., clergyman, 152. 
Woolcock, Wm., referred to, etc., 62, 75. 
Wootlon, K., referred to, 349, 365. 
VVorthington, B. M, referred to, 367. 
" Worser," The, old building, 80. 
Wri2ht,D. H., teacher, etc., 149. 221, 238, 356, 
Wyman, W. W., referred to, 73. 
Wyrick, Rev. C. E., referred to, 357. 

Yager. H. W., Madison Hotel, 73. 
Yoimg & Bros., referred to, 312. 



